'MARIE   .    .    .    SHOT  THK  MAN  THROUGH  THK  HEART." 


THE    TRAITORS 

By  E.  PHILLIPS  OPPENHEIM 


Author     of 

"A  Millionaire  of  Yesterday,"  "The 
World's  Great  Snare,"  etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 


COPYRIGHT,  1902 
By  E.  PHILLIPS  OPPENHEIM 


COPYRIGHT,  1903 
By  DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 


First  Edition  published  March,  1903 


-  p-  ,      - 

URL  141894 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

"  MARIE    .    .    .    SHOT  THE  MAN  THROUGH 

THE  HEART,"    ....  Frontispiece 

tc<I   BELIEVE,'    HE    SAID,  '  THAT   YOU  OUGHT 

TO    KISS MY    HAND,''  .  .  l6o 

"  NICHOLAS    OF     REIST     STOOD    ON    THE 

THRESHOLD,"     .          .          .          .          .     22O 

"'THE  WAR  IS  OVER,'  HE  CRIED,"  .         .     342 


The  Traitors 


CHAPTER  I 

"  DOWN  with  the  traitors  !  Down  with  the  Russian 
spies  !  Down  with  Metzger !  " 

Above  the  roaring  of  the  north  wind  rose  the  clamour 
of  voices,  the  cries  of  hate  and  disgust,  the  deep  groaning 
sobs  of  fierce  and  militant  anger.  The  man  and  the 
woman  exchanged  quick  glances. 

"  They  are  coming  nearer,"  he  said. 

She  drew  aside  the  heavy  curtain,  and  stood  there, 
looking  out  into  the  night. 

"  It  is  so,"  she  answered.  "  They  are  pouring  into 
the  square." 

He  rose  and  stood  beneath  the  great  carved  mantel- 
piece. Over  his  head,  hewn  out  of  the  solid  oak,  black 
with  age  and  coloured  with  that  deep  richness  which  is 
to-day  as  a  lost  art,  were  blazoned  the  arms  of  one  of 
Europe's  noblest  families.  He,  Nicholas  of  Reist,  its 
sole  male  representative,  stood  deep  in  thought,  his  dark 
young  face  furrowed  with  anxiety.  The  moment  was 
critical.  It  was  one  of  a  lifetime. 

She  dropped  the  curtain  and  came  over  to  his  side. 
The  flush  of  excitement  was  in  her  cheeks.  Her  eyes 

i 


2  THE  TRAITORS 

were  like  shining  stars.  Of  their  close  relationship  there 
could  be  no  manner  of  doubt.  The  same  oval  face  and 
finely-cut  features,  the  same  pride  of  race,  the  same 
firm,  graceful  bearing.  Only  there  were  lines  upon  his 
face — the  lines  of  thought  and  care  ;  whilst  hers  re- 
mained as  smooth  as  damask,  typically  and  wonderfully 
beautiful. 

Again  the  murmur  of  hoarse  voices — nearer  now  and 
more  clamorous. 

"Down  with  the  traitor  Metzger  and  his  accursed 
government !  Reist !  Reist !  A  Reist  !  " 

Her  white  fingers  fell  upon  his  shoulder. 

"  They  are  calling  for  you,  Nicholas,"  she  said,  softly. 
"  Listen  !  It  is  the  voice  of  our  people,  and  they  need 
you.  Will  you  go  out  and  speak  to  them?  Shall  I 
open  the  window — yes  ?  " 

"  Not  yet,"  he  answered,  swiftly.     "  Not  yet." 

Her  hands  were  already  upon  the  curtains.  She 
turned  around,  an  impatient  frown  upon  her  face. 

"  You  do  not  hesitate,  my  brother,"  she  cried.  "  No, 
it  is  not  possible.  It  is  our  country,  Nicholas,  our 
homeland  which  calls  for  you  to  save  it." 

"  Ay,  to  save  it — but  how  ?  Metzger  has  made  the 
way  difficult." 

Her  eyes  flashed  fire  upon  him.  She  was  superbly 
disdainful. 

"Are  you  the  first  Duke  of  Reist  who  has  governed 
Theos  ?  "  she  cried.  "  Is  there  not  the  blood  of  former 
Kings  in  your  veins  ?  Holy  Mother,  but  it  is  intolerable 
that  you  should  hesitate  !  Nicholas,  if  you  let  these 
people  call  in  vain  you  will  be  the  first  of  our  race  who 


THE  TRAITORS  3 

has  ever  shrunk  from  his  duty.  I  will  not  call  you  any 
longer  my  brother.  Listen  !  " 

"  Reist !  Nicholas  of  Reist !  Down  with  the  com- 
mon dogs.  Down  with  the  traitors.  Down  with 
Metzger  !  " 

He  smiled  faintly.  Those  subtle  lines  about  his 
mouth  were  not  there  in  vain. 

"  I  wonder  where  Metzger  is  hiding,"  he  murmured. 
"  How  good  it  would  be  to  see  him  now.  How  he 
would  quiver  and  shake.  There  is  death  in  those  voices." 

She  flashed  a  look  of  impatient  scorn  upon  him. 

"You  are  trifling  with  your  destiny,  Nicholas,"  she 
cried.  "What  matters  the  life  or  death  of  such  as 
Metzger  ?  Our  people  need  you.  Out  and  tell  the 
men  of  Theos  that  once  again  a  Reist  will  save  his 
country." 

"  Brave  words,  little  sister.     Brave  words." 

Her  eyes  were  ablaze  with  anger. 

"  Have  I  been  mistaken  in  you  all  these  years, 
Nicholas  ?  "  she  cried.  "  Listen  again.  Those  are  the 
children  of  your  city  who  call  to  you  for  aid.  Have 
you  no  longer  the  heart  of  a  man  or  the  blood  of  a 
patriot  ?  " 

A  storm  of  wind  and  rain  shook  the  high  windows. 
From  below  came  the  sound  of  a  multitude  thronging 
nearer  and  nearer  till  the  square  seemed  filled  to  over- 
flowing with  a  surging  mob.  The  man  raised  his  head 
as  one  who  listens,  and  the  smile  no  longer  lightened  his 
face.  The  woman  who  watched  him  anxiously  drew 
a  long  sigh  of  relief.  She  knew  then  beyond  a  doubt 
that  it  needed  no  words  from  her  to  fire  his  resolution. 


4  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  quietly,  "  those  are  the  voices 
which  I  have  prayed  all  my  life  that  I  might  hear. 
Only  I  fear  that  they  have  come  too  soon.  Have  you 
considered  what  it  is  that  they  would  have  from  me  ?  " 

"  They  would  make  you  lord  of  the  country,"  she 
cried.  "  Who  better  or  more  fitted  ?  Have  no  fear, 
Nicholas.  You  come  of  a  race  of  rulers.  The  God  of 
our  fathers  will  guide  your  destiny." 

The  room,  huge,  unlit  and  darkened  with  tapestry 
hangings,  seemed  full  of  mysterious  shadows.  Only 
those  two  faces — the  girl's  passionate,  the  man's  keenly 
thoughtful — seemed  like  luminous  things.  From  below 
came  still  the  murmur  of  voices  rising  every  now  and 
then  to  a  hoarse  roar.  The  man  became  suddenly  ex- 
plicit. His  face  relaxed.  He  came  back  from  a  far- 
away land  of  thought. 

"  Listen,"  he  said.  "  These  people  have  come  to 
put  me  in  Metzger's  place.  There  would  be  no  diffi- 
culty about  that.  Already  I  have  received  a  message 
from  the  House  of  Laws.  Bah  !  I  have  no  stomach 
to  sit  in  council  with  tradesmen  and  citizens,  to  have  my 
will  questioned,  to  rule  only  by  a  casting  vote.  These 
modern  forms  of  government  are  vile.  They  would 
make  me  President  of  their  Republic — I,  a  Reist  of 
Theos,  whose  forefathers  ruled  the  land  with  sword  and 
fire.  They  would  put  me  in  the  place  of  Metzger,  the 
merchant — Metzger,  who  would  have  sold  his  country 
to  the  Russians.  I  say  no  !  " 

"  What,  then  ?  "  she  cried.  "  What,  then  ?  Speak, 
Nicholas.  There  are  thoughts  behind.  Who  but  I 
should  know  them  ?  " 


THE  TRAITORS  5 

"When  I  rule  Theos,"  he  answered,  slowly,  "it 
shall  be  even  as  the  Dukes  of  Reist  have  ruled  it  before 
me,  with  a  sceptre  in  their  hands,  and  a  sword  upon 
their  knees.  That  time  is  not  yet,  Marie,  but  it  may 
come.  I  think  that  you  and  I  will  see  it." 

"  Why  not  now  ?  "  she  cried.  "  The  people  would 
accept  you  on  any  terms.  The  Republic  has  fallen. 
You  shall  be  their  King." 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  The  time  is  not  yet,"  he  repeated.  "  Marie,  be- 
lieve me,  I  know  my  people.  In  their  blood  lingers 
still  some  taint  of  the  democratic  fever.  You  must 
learn,  little  sister,  as  I  have  learned  it,  the  legend  on  our 
walls  and  shield,  the  motto  of  our  race,  4  Slowly,  but  ever 
forward.'  " 

"  But  the  people,"  she  cried.  "  What  will  you  say  to 
them  ?  It  is  you  whom  they  want.  Their  throats  are 
hoarse  with  shouting." 

He  threw  open  the  great  windows,  and  a  roar  of  wel- 
come from  below  rose  high  above  the  storm. 

"  You  shall  hear  what  I  will  say  to  them,  Marie,"  he 
answered.  "  Come  out  by  my  side." 


CHAPTER  II 

ALMOST  as  the  man  stepped  out  on  to  the  massive 
stone  balcony  of  his  house,  the  wind  dropped,  and  a  red 
flaring  sun  dipped  behind  the  towering  mountains  which 
guarded  the  city  westwards  and  eastwards.  A  roar  of 
greeting  welcomed  his  appearance,  and  while  he  waited 
for  silence  his  eyes  rested  fondly  upon  the  long  line  of 
iron-bound  hills,  stern  and  silent  guardians  of  the  city 
of  his  birth.  For  a  moment  he  forgot  his  ambitions 
and  the  long  unswerving  pursuit  of  his  great  desire. 
The  love  of  his  country  was  born  in  the  man — the  bet- 
ter part  of  him  was  steeped  in  patriotic  fervour.  And 
most  of  all,  he  loved  this  ancient  city  amongst  the  hills, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  many  generations  of  his 
family  had  lived  and  died.  Dear  to  him  were  its  squares 
and  narrow  streets,  the  ancient  stone  houses,  the  many 
picturesque  records  of  its  great  age  ever,  as  it  seemed  to 
him,  frowning  with  a  stern  and  magnificent  serenity 
amongst  the  tawdry  evidences  of  later  days  and  the 
irresistible  march  of  modernity.  The  wine-shops  of  a 
hundred  years  ago  flourished  still  side  by  side  with  the 
more  pretentious  cafes,  half  French,  half  Russian,  which 
had  sprung  up  like  mushrooms  about  the  city.  The 
country-made  homespuns,  the  glassware  and  metal 
work,  heritage  of  generations  of  craftsmen,  survived  still 
the  hideous  competition  of  cheap  Lancashire  productions 
and  Brummagem  ware.  The  picturesque  old  fought  a 
brave  battle  with  the  tinsel  and  tawdriness  of  the  new. 

6 


THE  TRAITORS  7 

If  Nicholas  of  Reist  could  have  had  his  way  he  would 
have  built  an  impenetrable  wall  against  this  slow  poison, 
the  unwelcome  heritage  of  western  progress.  He  would 
have  thrust  the  ages  back  a  century  and  built  bulwarks 
about  his  beloved  country.  He  looked  downwards,  and 
his  heart  grew  warm  within  him.  Many  of  the  people 
who  shouted  his  name  were  from  the  country  districts 
and  wore  the  picturesque  garb  of  their  forefathers  long 
extinct  in  the  city.  The  sight  of  their  eager,  upturned 
faces  was  dear  to  him.  Some  day  they  should  be  his 
people  indeed.  It  should  be  his  country  to  rule  as  he 
thought  best.  He  felt  himself  at  that  moment  a  patriot 
pure  and  simple. 

So  he  spoke  to  them  in  that  clear,  sweet  voice  which 
every  Reist  possessed,  and  he  spoke  fluently  and  con- 
vincingly. 

"  My  fellow-countrymen,"  he  said,  "  these  are  not 
days  for  those  who  love  their  country  to  waste  breath 
in  idle  speech.  Your  Republic  of  which  you  were  so 
proud  has  fallen.  Metzger  has  proved  himself  a  traitor. 
Well,  I  am  not  surprised  at  either  of  these  things.  I 
warned  you,  but  you  would  not  listen.  Your  ancient 
Kings  must  indeed  have  turned  in  their  graves  when 
you  elected  to  be  ruled  by  such  men.  You  have  tried 
them,  and  you  'have  been  betrayed.  What  would  you 
have  with  me  ?  " 

"  A  new  government,"  they  cried.  "  A  Reist  for 
President ! " 

He  raised  his  hand.  The  roar  of  voices  died  away  at 
once. 

"  You  would  put  me,"  he  said,  "  in  Metzger's  place. 


8  THE  TRAITORS 

You  would  make  me  President  of  the  Republic  of 
Theos.  Is  that  what  you  would  have  ?  " 

"  Ay  !  Ay  !  "  from  a  thousand  tongues.  Then  there 
was  a  breathless  silence.  They  waited  in  deep  anxiety 
for  the  answer  of  this  man  whom  they  had  come  to  look 
upon  as  their  one  possible  saviour. 

For  awhile  he  stood  there  speechless,  deep  in  thought. 
After  all,  was  he  not  throwing  away  a  certainty  for  what 
might  prove  an  empty  dream  ?  There  had  been  Presi- 
dents who  had  become  Dictators,  and  between  that  and 
Monarchy  the  chasm  was  narrow  and  easily  bridged.  It 
was  not  for  long,  however,  that  he  wavered.  His  plans 
were  too  carefully  thought  out  to  be  changed  by  an 
impulse,  however  powerful.  His  time  was  not  yet. 

"  My  people,"  he  said  quietly,  "  I  thank  you,  and  I 
am  sorry  that  what  you  ask  may  not  be.  It  is  not 
because  I  do  not  love  my  country,  it  is  not  because  I 
would  not  shed  my  last  drop  of  blood  in  her  defence. 
But  President  of  your  Republic  I  never  will  be.  No 
earthly  power  should  draw  my  footsteps  across  the 
threshold  of  your  brand-new  Parliament." 

There  arose  a  deep  murmur  of  disappointment — 
almost  of  despair.  They  shouted  questions,  appeals, 
prayers,  and  Nicholas  of  Reist  leaned  far  over  his  time- 
worn  stone  balcony  and  spoke  to  them  again. 

"You  are  questioning  my  patriotism,"  he  cried. 
"  You  do  not  understand.  Very  well,  you  shall  know 
all  that  is  in  my  mind.  I  am  going  to  say  what  will 
sound  like  treason  to  you.  Perhaps  you  will  shout  me 
down — it  may  be  that  you  will  leave  me  now  in  disgust. 
Nevertheless,  listen.  I  hate  your  Republic.  It  is  a 


THE  TRAITORS  9 

rotten,  corrupt  thing.  I  hate  what  you  have  called  your 
Parliament.  There  is  scarcely  a  man  in  it  whom  I 
would  trust.  What  has  your  new-fangled  scheme  of 
government  done  for  you  ?  It  has  made  you  the  sport 
and  plaything  of  the  Powers,  our  independence  is  hourly 
threatened,  ay,  even  before  this  year  has  passed  away 
the  cannon  of  the  invader  may  be  thundering  against 
your  walls.  When  that  time  comes  I  promise  that  you 
shall  not  call  to  me  in  vain.  You  shall  find  me  amongst 
you  sword  in  hand,  and  I  pray  God  that  I  may  do  my 
duty  as  a  patriot  and  a  faithful  son  of  the  State.  But 
this  thing  which  you  ask  of  me  now  I  will  not  do.  I 
will  not  take  my  seat  at  the  same  table  with  those  who 
have  helped  Metzger  to  traffic  in  the  freedom  of  this 
country.  I  will  not  speak  with  or  have  any  dealing  with 
them.  How  is  it  that  you  have  dared  to  ask  me  this 
thing,  men  of  Theos?  Already  the  war  beacons  are 
built — soon  they  may  be  reddening  our  skies.  This  is 
what  your  Republic  has  done  for  you,  and  as  God  is  my 
witness,  so  long  as  that  Republic  exists  I  will  not  lift 
my  little  finger  to  help  you." 

Something  of  a  panic  seized  the  people,  for  indeed  the 
words  of  the  speaker  had  come  home  to  them,  winged 
with  a  foretelling  truth.  Metzger,  their  President,  had 
been  caught  red-handed  in  a  flagrant  attempt  to  barter 
away  the  freedom  of  their  country.  Who  else  might 
not  be  implicated  ?  They  looked  at  one  another  fear- 
fully. One  feeling  alone  was  common  to  all.  Before 
them  was  the  only  man  whom  they  could  trust — one  of 
their  ancient  nobility,  a  patriot,  above  suspicion.  He 
had  more  to  say.  They  would  take  him  on  his  own 


io  THE  TRAITORS 

terms.  So  once  more  the  air  was  rent  with  their  cries, 
and  Nicholas  of  Reist  raised  again  his  hand. 

"Listen,"  he  said.  "You  want  my  advice.  You 
have  come  to  me  because  the  State  is  in  danger,  and  be- 
cause those  who  should  have  defended  it  have  played 
you  false.  So  be  it !  I  speak  to  you  as  man  to  man, 
citizen  of  Theos  to  citizen  of  Theos.  No  Republic  can 
save  you.  It  is  a  King  you  want." 

A  deep,  hoarse  murmur  swept  upwards  from  the 
packed  square.  The  Republic  had  been  their  plaything, 
the  caprice  of  an  impulsive  people,  and  they  were  loth 
to  own  themselves  in  the  wrong.  Nicholas  of  Reist 
read  their  faces  like  a  book.  Now  or  never  must  he  win 
his  way  from  this  people,  or  fall  forever  from  their  re- 
gard. His  pale  countenance  was  lit  with  a  passionate 
earnestness.  He  leaned  towards  them,  and  his  voice 
throbbed  with  tremulous  eloquence. 

"  Listen,"  he  cried.  "  You  have  had  a  Parliament 
and  a  President — Metzger.  What  glories  has  he  won 
for  you  ? — how  has  he  enriched  you,  how  much  more 
prosperous  is  our  country  ?  I  will  tell  you  what  he  has 
done.  He  has  tried  to  sell  you  and  Theos  for  a  million 
pounds.  Oh,  I  am  not  afraid  to  tell  you  the  truth, 
though  one  of  you  should  shoot  me  whilst  I  stand  here. 
Theos  was  to  become  a  tributary  state  to  Russia.  Your 
country,  which  has  defied  conquest  for  a  thousand  years, 
was  to  be  bartered  away  that  one  man  might  live  in 
luxury  on  his  miserable  blood-money.  Men  of  Theos, 
turn  over  the  back  pages  of  your  country's  history. 
Think  of  those  heroes  who  gave  their  lives  that  you 
might  be  free  men.  Think  of  King  Rudolph,  who 


THE  TRAITORS  n 

vanquished  all  the  hosts  of  Austria,  or  King  Ughtred, 
who  drove  the  Turks  back  across  the  Balkans  in  mid- 
winter, and  with  five  thousand  ill-armed  men  routed  the 
whole  army  of  the  Sultan.  Remember  Rudolph  the 
Second,  who  defended  this  very  city  for  twelve  months 
against  fifty  thousand  Turks,  until  for  very  shame  Eng- 
land held  up  her  hand  and  all  Europe,  rang  with  the 
gallantry  of  our  King  and  his  little  band  of  half-starved 
soldiers.  Leave  Republics  to  nations  who  have  no  past, 
and  whose  souls  are  steeped  in  commerce.  What  have 
we  to  do  with  them  ?  We  have  a  magnificent  history, 
an  ancient  and  glorious  country.  We  have  soldiers,  few 
perhaps,  but  matchless  throughout  the  world.  And  men 
of  Theos,  listen.  Metzger  has  gone  far  in  his  treachery. 
I  know  nothing  of  your  State  affairs,  but  this  I  do  know. 
The  covetousness  of  those  with  whom  he  dealt  is 
whetted.  They  are  not  likely  to  bear  their  disappoint- 
ment quietly.  Before  many  months  have  passed  the 
storm  may  burst — the  war  beacons  may  be  flaring  round 
our  borders.  So  I  say  to  you,  have  no  more  dealings 
with  Republics.  Scatter  your  Parliament  to  the  four 
winds  of  Heaven,  summon  back  your  ancient  House  of 
Laws,  choose  for  yourselves  a  soldier  King,  one  of  the 
ancient  and  royal  race,  who  shall  rule  you  as  his  fore- 
fathers did  in  times  of  peace,  and  ride  before  you  with 
drawn  sword  when  the  war  clouds  gather." 

The  babel  of  many  voices  broke  loose.     Reist  felt  his 
sister's  fingers  close  upon  his  arm. 

"  It  is  you  who  must  be  their  King,  Nicholas." 
He  shook  his  head.     Then  they  saw  that  he  would 
speak  again,   and    the    murmur   of    voices    died    away. 


12  THE  TRAITORS 

Reist  leaned  over  towards  them,  and  his  face  was  very 
pale.  This  was  his  renunciation. 

"  My  people,"  he  said,  "  listen.  Many  of  you  have 
heard  of  the  war  which  the  English  have  been  carrying 
on  in  Egypt.  You  have  heard  perhaps  of  a  Captain 
Erlito,  who,  with  a  dozen  men,  held  a  Nile  fort  for  two 
days  against  a  thousand  dervishes,  and  for  this  and  other 
acts  of  valour  has  won  the  Iron  Cross.  But  this  at  least 
you  do  not  know.  Captain  Erlito  is  the  assumed  name 
of  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  Prince  of  Theos." 

The  murmur  of  voices  became  a  roar  of  acclamation. 
Then  Nicholas  of  Reist  raised  his  voice  at  once. 

"  Listen,  men  of  Theos,"  he  cried.  "  Is  it  your  will 
that  I  seek  out  for  you  Prince  Ughtred  and  offer  him 
the  throne  of  Theos  ?  Think  well  before  you  answer. 
He  is  a  soldier,  a  brave  and  honest  man,  and  he  is  of 
the  royal  race  of  Tyrnaus,  who  for  many  generations 
have  been  Kings  of  Theos.  He  will  not  sell  you  to 
Russia  or  beckon  the  hosts  of  the  Sultan  across  the 
mountains.  Will  you  have  him  for  your  King  ?  " 

The  square,  nay,  the  city,  rang  with  their  passionate 
answer.  Never  was  anything  more  unanimous.  Nicho- 
las stepped  back  into  the  room.  His  sister  faced  him 
with  blazing  eyes  and  cheeks  dyed  red  with  anger. 

"  Fool !  "  she  cried,  "  fool !  They  would  have  made 
you  King.  They  were  yours  to  do  what  you  would 
with.  You  have  been  false  to  your  destiny.  I  will 
never  forgive  you,  Nicholas." 

He  smiled  curiously,  and  pointed  upwards  to  that 
deep-engraven  legend. 

"  My  time,"  he  said,  "  is  not  yet."     ,  fj  . 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  lift  went  rumbling  up  to  the  topmost  storey  of 
the  great  block  of  flats,  and  stopped  at  last  with  some- 
thing of  a  groan.  The  gates  were  opened,  and  Reist 
stepped  out.  He  looked  about  him  at  the  bare  walls, 
the  stone  floor,  and  shrugged  his  shoulders.  Erlito  was 
none  too  well  lodged  then — soldiering  had  brought  him 
some  brief  fame,  but  little  else.  Then  he  suddenly 
smiled.  The  incongruity  of  the  thing  was  ridiculous. 
His  sense  of  humour,  by  no  means  a  characteristic  trait 
of  the  man,  was  touched.  The  smile  lingered  upon  his 
lips.  He  had  come  to  offer  a  kingdom  to  a  pauper ! 

The  lift-boy  slammed  his  gates  and  prepared  to 
descend. 

"  Captain  Erlito's  rooms  are  at  the  end  of  the  passage, 
sir,"  he  volunteered.  "  Last  door  on  the  left." 

The  information  was  properly  rewarded,  and  the  boy's 
tolerant  contempt  for  the  foreigner,  who  at  his  journey's 
end  seemed  afflicted  with  a  curious  hesitation,  became 
an  extinct  thing.  He  pulled  the  rope  and  descended  in 
hot  haste,  a  large  silver  coin  locked  in  his  fingers  and  a 
glorious  tingling  sensation  of  unbounded  wealth  in  his 
bosom. 

Reist  knocked  at  the  door  which  had  been  pointed 
out  to  him,  and  waited.  There  came  no  answer.  He 
tried  again,  and  became  conscious  of  a  confused  volume 
of  sounds  within,  altogether  drowning  his  summons  for 


14  THE  TRAITORS 

admission.  He  listened,  perplexed.  Light  and  rapid 
footsteps,  the  swishing  of  a  silken  skirt,  a  clear,  musical 
laugh  and  cry  of  triumph,  a  succession  of  sounds  which 
were  wholly  meaningless  to  him.  Surely  it  was  some 
sort  of  pandemonium.  A  momentary  silence  was 
followed  by  a  chorus  of  voices.  Reist  raised  his  stick 
and  knocked  more  loudly.  A  man's  voice  travelled  out 
to  him  like  mild  thunder. 

"  Come  in  !  " 

Reist  opened  the  door  and  crossed  the  threshold. 
Before  him  was  an  explanation  of  the  sounds  which 
he  had  heard.  Only  he  was,  if  possible,  a  little  more 
bewildered  than  ever. 

He  was  in  a  high,  bare  apartment,  carpetless,  and 
almost  without  furniture.  Across  the  middle  of  the 
floor  was  stretched  an  upright  net,  and  on  either  side  of 
it  were  chalk-marked  squares.  Facing  him  was  a  girl 
with  her  left  foot  poised  slightly  forward,  her  arm  raised, 
in  the  act  of  striking  a  feathered  cork  with  a  small 
racquet.  By  her  side  was  a  man  whom  Reist  recognized 
at  once.  Directly  he  saw  his  visitor  he  stopped  the  game. 

"  One  moment,  Miss  Van  Decht,"  he  cried.  "  I  am 
wanted." 

He  crossed  the  room,  swinging  his  racquet  in  his 
hand,  and  addressed  Reist  with  a  pleasant  smile. 

"  We  have  been  making  so  much  noise,"  he  said, 
"  that  I  am  afraid  we  did  not  hear  your  first  knock.  I 
am  Captain  Erlito.  You  wished  to  see  me  ?  " 

Reist  looked  him  steadily  and  full  in  the  face.  If 
physique  went  for  anything  this  man  was  surely  born  to 
be  a  King.  He  was  well  over  six  feet,  splendidly  made, 


THE  TRAITORS  15 

and  of  military  appearance.  His  features  were  clean- 
cut  in  the  unmistakable  Tyrnaus  mould — only  his  mouth, 
which,  stern  though  it  was,  was  full  of  humour,  seemed 
unfamiliar.  His  eyes  were  a  wonderful  deep  blue,  and 
his  skin  bronzed  and  burned  with  the  Egyptian  sun.  A 
momentary  bitterness  possessed  Reist.  The  people  of 
Theos  would  care  little  for  the  brains  which  this  man 
might  lack.  The  first  glance  of  him  would  be  sufficient. 
They  would  shout  him  King  till  they  were  hoarse. 

"  You  do  not  remember  me,  then  ?  "  Reist  asked, 
softly. 

Erlito  stood  swinging  his  racquet  lightly  in  his  fingers, 
and  looked  into  his  visitor's  face  with  pleasant  and  def* 
erential  courtesy. 

"  Do  you  know,"  he  said,  "  I  am  very  sorry,  but  I  am 
afraid  that  I  do  not.  I  have  a  very  bad  memory  for 
faces.  Thtere  is  something  about  yours  which  seems  to 
me  familiar,  but  it  comes  from  a  long  way  back." 

Reist  smiled  faintly. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  it  comes  indeed  from  a  long  way 
back.  It  comes  from  our  boyhood.  I  hope  at  least  that 
you  have  not  forgotten  my  name.  I  am  Nicholas  of 
Reist." 

A  radiant  smile  broke  across  Erlito's  face.  He 
dropped  his  racquet  and  held  out  both  his  hands. 

"  It  is  little  Nick  !  "  he  cried.  "  By  all  that  is  won- 
derful it  is  little  Nick !  Remember  you  ?  Why,  we 
played  soldiers  together  when  we  were  children.  A 
thousand,  thousand  welcomes." 

|le  wrung  his  visitor's  hands.  His  eyes  were  very 
bright.  He  was  undoubtedly  affected. 


16  THE  TRAITORS 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  have  not  forgotten  those  days," 
Reist  murmured.  "  As  children  we  were  together  day 
by  day.  Yet  it  is  very  long  ago,  and  for  you  at  least," 
he  continued,  "  there  have  been  so  many  great  hap- 
penings." 

"  It  is  splendid  of  you  to  have  fou'nd  me  out,"  Erlito 
cried.  "  I  imagined  that  no  one  knew  even  of  my  ex- 
istence. And  Marie  ?  " 

"  My  sister  is  quite  well,"  Reist  answered.  "  I  had 
forgotten  for  the  moment  that  she  too  was  once  your 
playmate.  It  is  so  long  ago." 

"  She  is  with  you  in  London  ?  You  are  living  here, 
perhaps  ?  "  Erlito  asked.  "  It  is  the  most  hospitable 
city  in  the  world." 

Reist  shook  his  head. 

"  There  is  only  one  home  for  us,"  he  answered.  "  I 
do  not  love  strange  cities." 

"  You  mean " 

"  Theos  !  " 

Erlito's  face  clouded  suddenly  over.  He  glanced 
uneasily  behind  him.  His  face  became  graver,  his  ex- 
pression resolved  itself  into  sterner  lines.  A  sudden 
bitterness  found  its  way  into  his  tone.  The  mention  of 
Theos  had  stung  him. 

"  The  Republic  tolerates  aristocrats,  then,"  he  re- 
marked. "  You  are  fortunate." 

Reist  drew  himself  up. 

"  The  Republic,"  he  answered,  proudly,  "  would 
never  dare  to  interfere  with  us.  While  the  people  of 
Theos  remain,  we  of  Reist  are  safe." 

There  was  a  momentary  pause.     Reist  was  conscious 


THE  TRAITORS  17 

that  his  impetuous  speech  was  scarcely  a  happy  one. 
For  it  was  this  man  indeed  who  was  the  outcast — whose 
name  even  had  become  strange  to  the  people  over  whom 
his  forefathers  had  ruled.  Erlito  showed  no  resentment, 
but  his  eyes  were  very  sorrowful. 

"  Your  family,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  have  always  been 
patriots.  You  deserve  well  of  your  country  people." 

Reist  glanced  once  more  around  the  room. 

"  My  visit  to  you,"  he  said,  "  is  not  one  of  courtesy 
— nay,  let  me  say  affection,  only.  I  have  a  weighty 
matter  to  discuss  with  you.  Will  you  allow  me  to  out- 
stay your  guests  ?  " 

"  With  all  the  pleasure  in  the  world,"  Erlito  answered, 
heartily.  "  I  should  indeed  insist  upon  it." 

"  You  will  perhaps  continue  your — game,"  Reist  sug- 
gested, with  another  glance  towards  the  net.  "  My 
time  is  yours." 

Erlito  hesitated. 

"  You  are  very  good,  Nicholas,"  he  said.  "  We  are, 
as  you  see,  playing  Badminton,  and  as  a  matter  of  fact 
we  are  very  much  in  earnest  about  this  game.  Miss 
Van  Decht  and  I  are  playing  the  deciding  match  with 
my  friends  there,  Hassen  and  Brand.  Let  me  find  you 
a  chair,  and  present  you  to  these  good  people.  After- 
wards— it  will  not  be  long — I  shall  be  wholly  at  your 
service  ;  and,  Nicholas,  if  you  please,  I  am  Erlito  only 
here.  You  understand  ?  "  ^ 

Reist  assented  gravely,  and  Erlito  turned5  round.  The 
two  players  were  talking  to  the  girl  across  the  net.  An 
elderly  man  with  grey  imperial  and  smoking  a  long  cigar 
was  leaning  back  in  a  deck-chair. 


1 8  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Miss  Van  Decht,"  Erlito  said,  turning  to  her,  "  will 
you  permit  me  to  present  to  you  my  very  old  friend,  the 
Duke  Nicholas  of  Reist — Miss  Van  Decht,  Mr.  Van 
Decht,  Mr.  Hassen,  Mr.  Brand." 

Reist  bowed  low  before  the  girl,  who  looked  straight 
into  his  eyes  with  a  frank  and  pleasant  curiosity.  She 
was  largely  made,  but  the  long  flowing  lines  of  her  figure 
were  perfectly  and  symmetrically  graceful.  Her  features 
were  delicate,  but  her  mouth  was  delightful — large, 
shapely  and  sensitive.  Her  light  brown  hair,  which 
showed  a  disposition  to  wave,  had  escaped  bounds  a 
little  during  the  violent  exercise  and  had  fallen  into  pic- 
turesque disorder.  She  smiled  charmingly  at  Reist,  but 
said  nothing  beyond  the  conventional  words  of  greeting. 
Then  she  looked  up  at  Erlito  with  twinkling  eyes. 

"  Mr.  Brand  is  getting  insupportable,"  she  declared. 
"  He  is  like  all  you  obstinate  Englishmen.  He  does  not 
know  when  he  is  beaten." 

"  We  will  endeavour,"  Erlito  said,  taking  up  his 
racquet,  "  to  impress  it  upon  him.  There  are  cigarettes 
by  your  side,  Reist." 

The  girl  went  to  her  place  at  the  end  of  the  court. 

"  This  must  be  the  deciding  game,"  she  declared,  "  for 
the  light  is  going,  and  dad  is  smoking  his  last  cigar. 
Ready  !  Serve  !  " 

The  game  recommenced.  Reist  sat  upon  an  over- 
turned box  by  the  side  of  Mr.  Van  Decht  smoking  a 
cigarette  and  watching  gravely  the  flying  figures.  It 
was  the  girl  who  absorbed  most  of  his  attention.  To 
him  she  was  an  utterly  new  type.  She  was  as  beautiful 
in  her  way  as  his  own  sister,  but  her  frank  energy  and 


THE  TRAITORS  19 

the  easy  terms  of  intimacy  which  obviously  existed  be- 
tween her  male  companions  and  herself  was  wholly  in- 
explicable to  him.  He  watched  her  with  fascinated  gaze. 
All  the  beautiful  women  whom  he  had  ever  known  had 
numbered  amongst  their  characteristics  a  certain  re- 
straint, almost  an  aloofness,  which  he  had  come  to  look 
upon  as  their  inevitable  attribute.  Their  smiles  were 
rare  and  precious  marks  of  favour,  an  undisturbed  seren- 
ity of  deportment  was  almost  an  inherent  part  of  their 
education.  Here  was  a  woman  of  the  new  world,  no 
less  to  be  respected,  he  was  sure,  than  her  sisters  of 
Theos,  Vienna,  and  St.  Petersburg,  yet  viewing  life  from 
a  wholly  different  standpoint.  From  the  first  there  was 
something  curiously  fascinating  to  Reist  in  the  perfect 
naturalness  and  self-assurance  of  the  girl  whose  every 
thought  and  energy  seemed  centred  just  then  upon  that 
flying  cork.  Her  lips  were  slightly  parted,  her  eyes 
were  bright,  her  face  was  full  of  colour  and  vivacity. 
She  sprang  backwards  and  forwards,  jumped  and  stooped 
with  the  delightful  freedom  of  perfect  health  and 
strength.  She  even  joined  in  the  chaff  which  flashed 
backwards  and  forwards  across  the  net,  good-humoured 
always,  and  gay,  but  always  personal  and  indicating  a 
more  than  common  intimacy  between  the  little  party. 
Reist  would  have  been  quite  content  to  have  sat  and 
watched  her  until  the  game  was  over,  but  for  a  sudden, 
and  to  him  amazing,  incident.  At  a  critical  moment 
Erlito  missed  a  difficult  stroke — the  younger  and  slighter 
of  his  two  opponents  threw  his  racquet  into  the  air  with 
a  curious  little  cry  of  triumph. 
"  Ho-e-la  !  Ho-e-la !  " 


20  THE  TRAITORS 

Reist  started  almost  to  his  feet,  and  the  blood  surged 
hotly  in  his  veins.  Where  had  he  heard  that  cry  be- 
fore ?  He  looked  the  man  over  with  a  swift  and  eager 
scrutiny.  Olive-cheeked,  with  black  eyes  and  mous- 
tache, slightly-hooked  nose  and  light,  graceful  bearing, 
he  might  have  belonged  to  any  of  the  southern  nations. 
He  was  certainly  Mn_a-Engiislirjaan.  "  Ho-e-la !  Ho- 
e-la !  "  How  the  fever  of  hate  was  kindled  in  Reist's 
heart  as  the  echoes  of  that  cry  rang  through  the  room. 
His  memory,  too,  was  swift  and  vivid.  No  longer  he 
sat  in  that  bare  attic  watching  the  flying  figures  of  the 
Badminton  players  and  listening  to  their  cheerful  badi- 
nage. Walls  enclosed  him  no  more.  He  saw  out  over 
the  sea  and  land,  he  saw  things  the  memory  of  which 
still  thrilled  his  pulses,  tugged  at  his  heart-strings.  Over 
the  snow-capped  hills  he  rode,  wrapped  in  military  furs, 
his  sabre  clanking  by  his  side  and  a  storm  of  stinging 
sleet  driven  into  his  face.  Below  were  lights  flashing  in 
a  white  wilderness — amongst  the  hills  flared  the  red  fire 
of  the  guns,  the  music  of  their  thunders  was  even  then 
upon  his  ears.  Down  the  steep  defile  he  rode  at  the 
head  of  his  troop,  the  sound  of  their  approach  muffled 
by  the  deep  snow — afterwards  the  roar  of  meeting,  the 
breathless  excitement  of  the  charge,  the  deep  battle-cry 
of  the  men  of  Theos  and  from  those  others — ah,  he  had 
it  now. 

"Ho-e-la!     Ho-e-la!     Allah!     Allah!" 
A  cry  of  triumph.     The  game  was  over.     Sara  Van 
Decht  threw  herself  into  a  chair  between  her  father  and 
him  and  fanned  herself  vigorously  with  a  pocket-hand- 
kerchief.    The     others     were    laughing     and    talking 


THE  TRAITORS  21 

amongst  themselves.  Erlito  came  over  at  once  to  her 
side. 

"  Miss  Van  Decht,"  he  cried,  gaily,  "  we  are  invinci- 
ble. You  played  magnificently.  Reist,  we  are  going 
to  have  some  tea,  and  then  I  shall  be  at  your  service. 
Why,  our  tussle  seems  to  have  interested  you." 

Reist  withdrew  his  eyes  reluctantly  from  watching 
Hassen.  He  smiled  faintly. 

"Yes,"  he  said.  "New  things  are  always  interest- 
ing !  New  things — and  old  friends  !  "  ^ 


CHAPTER  IV 

AFTERNOON  tea  was  brought  in  by  an  elderly  man- 
servant in  plain  livery,  and  was  probably  the  most  un- 
conventional meal  which  Reist  had  ever  shared.  They 
sat  about  promiscuously  upon  chairs  and  overturned 
boxes,  and  there  was  a  good  deal  of  lively  conversation. 
Brand  was  a  newspaper  man,  who  had  served  as  war 
correspondent  with  Erlito  in  the  Egyptian  campaign, 
Mr.  Van  Decht  and  his  daughter  were  rich  Americans, 
loitering  about  Europe.  Hassen  remained  silent,  and  of 
him  Rcist  learned  nothing  further.  The  little  which  he 
knew  sufficed. 

Brand  came  over  and  sat  by  Reist's  side.  He  was  a 
tall,  fair  man,  with  keen  eyes  and  weather-beaten  skin — 
by  no  means  unlike  Erlito,  save  that  his  shoulders  were 
not  so  broad,  and  he  lacked  the  military  carriage. 

"  I  am  interested  in  your  country,  Duke,"  he  said. 
"  You  are  making  history  there.  It  seems  to  me  that  it 
may  become  European  history." 

"Theos  has  fallen  upon  evil  times,"  Reist  answered. 
"All  that  we  pray  of  Europe  is  that  we  may  be  left 
alone.  If  that  be  granted  us  we  shall  right  ourselves." 

Sara  Van  Decht  looked  across  at  him  with  frank  interest. 

"  Do  you  come  from  Theos,  Duke  r  "  she  asked. 

Reist  bowed. 

"  I  have  lived  there  all  my  life,"  he  said,  "  and  I 
know  it  better  than  any  other  place. 

22 


THE  TRAITORS  23 

"  It  is  a  very  beautiful  country,"  he  continued,  "  and 
very  dear  to  its  people.  To  strangers,  though,  and  spe- 
cially you  who  have  been  brought  up  in  America,  I  must 
confess  that  we  should  probably  seem  outside  the  pale  of 
civilization." 

"  Tell  me  why,"  she  asked.  "  What  are  you  so  back- 
ward in  ?  " 

"Luxuries,"  he  answered.  "We  have  no  electric 
light." 

"  It  is  detestable,"  she  exclaimed. 

"  No  street  cars." 

"  They  are  abominable  !  " 

Reist  smiled  quietly. 

"  We  have  scarcely  any  railways,"  he  said,  "  and  the 
telephone  is  rare  enough  to  be  a  curiosity." 

She  laughed  back  at  him,  and  gave  her  empty  cup  to 
Brand. 

"  Primitivism,"  she  declared,  "  is  quite  the  most  de- 
lightful thing  in  the  world.  Then  your  politics,  too, 
must  be  most  exciting.  You  have  revolutions,  and  that 
sort  of  thing,  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  Miss  Van  Decht,"  he  said, 
quietly.  "  Will  you  not  tell  me  what  you  mean  ?  " 

"  The  papers  are  all  so  vague,"  she  answered,  "  but 
one  gathers  that  Theos  is  in  a  state  of  political  unrest. 
I  believe  in  South  America  they  would  call  that  a 
revolution." 

Reist's  eyes  flashed  fire.  A  faint  smile  flickered  upon 
Hassen's  lips. 

"  There  is  not  any  comparison,"  he  said,  haughtily, 
"  any  possible  comparison,  between  the  affairs  of  one  of 


24  THE  TRAITORS 

the  most  ancient  and  historical  countries  in  Europe  and 
the  mushroom  States  of  South  America.  Theos,  it  is 
true,  has  made  mistakes,  and  she  will  suffer  for  them — 
she  is  suffering  now." 

"The  Republic,  for  example,"  Hassen  remarked, 
quietly. 

"  Theos,"  Reist  answered,  "  is  a  country  in  which  the 
Republican  instinct  is  as  yet  unborn.  Her  sons  are 
homely  and  brave,  tillers  of  the  soil,  or  soldiers.  We 
have  few  cities  to  corrupt,  and  very  little  attempt  at  the 
education  which  makes  shopkeepers  and  anarchists  of 
honest  men.  Perhaps  that  is  why  we  have  kept  our  in- 
dependence. Ay,  kept  it,  although  hemmed  in  with 
false  friends  and  open  enemies." 

Reist  spoke  with  fervour,  a  fire  in  his  dark  eyes,  a 
note  of  passion  vibrating  in  his  slow  tones.  The  girl 
especially  watched  him  with  keen  interest.  To  her  all 
this  was  new  and  incredible.  She  was  used  to  men  to 
whom  self-restraint  was  amongst  the  cardinal  virtues,  to 
the  patriotism  of  torchlight  processions  and  fire-crackers. 
This  was  all  so  different,  it  was  as  though  some  one  had 
turned  back  for  her  the  pages  of  history.  .  .  .  Reist 
surely  was  not  of  this  generation  ?  Erlito  had  averted 
his  face,  Hassen  was  busy  lighting  a  cigarette,  Mr.  Van 
Decht  was  as  bewildered  as  his  daughter.  Yet  Reist's 
words,  in  a  way,  had  moved  all  of  them.  It  was  Hassen 
who  answered. 

"  If  the  Republican  instinct,"  he  remarked,  quietly, 
"is  as  yet  unborn  in  Theos,  whence  the  banishment  of 
the  Tyrnaus  family,  and  the  establishment  of  a  Republi- 
can government  ? " 


THE  TRAITORS  25 

Reist  turned  full  upon  him,  and  his  eyes  were  like  the 
eyes  of  an  angry  lion. 

11  Maurice  of  Tyrnaus,"  he  said,  "  was  one  of  the  de- 
generates of  a  noble  race.  I  say  no  more  against  one 
whom,  if  alive,  I  should  still  acknowledge  as  my  King." 

Hassen  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  You  are  a  long  way  from  Theos,  Count,"  he  re- 
marked, pointedly.  "  You  took,  I  presume,  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  Republic  when  it  was  formed  ?  " 

"  That  is  a  false  saying,"  Reist  answered,  scornfully. 
"  I  neither  took  the  oath  nor  recognized  the  government." 

"  Yet  they  allowed  you  to  remain  in  the  capital  city  ?  " 
Hassen  asked. 

"There  was  no  one,"  Reist  answered,  "who  would 
have  dared  to  bid  me  depart.  Of  the  ancient  nobility 
of  Theos  we  alone  remain,  alas,  close  dwellers  in  our 
native  country.  Else  Metzger  had  been  hung  in  the 
market-place  with  short  shrift — he  a  merchant,  a  trafficker 
in  coin,  who  dared  to  sit  in  the  ancient  Council  House 
of  Theos  and  weave  his  cursed  treason.  And  listen, 
sir,"  he  continued,  turning  abruptly  upon  Hassen. 
"  You  would  know  whence  sprang  that  evil  weed  of  a 
Republic  !  I  will  tell  you.  It  was  the  work  of  foreign 
spies  working  with  foreign  gold  amongst  the  outcasts 
and  scum  of  Theos.  It  was  not  the  choice  of  the  peo- 
ple. It  was  the  word  of  sedition,  of  cunning  bribery, 
the  vile  underhand  efforts  of  foreign  politicians  seeking 
to  weaken  by  treachery  a  country  they  dared  not,  small 
though  it  is,  provoke  to  battle." 

There  followed  a  strange,  tense  silence.  No  one 
thought  of  interruption,  They  held  their  breath  and 


26  THE  TRAITORS 

waited.  The  conversation  which  had  started  harmlessly 
enough  had  become  a  duel.  The  grim  shadow  of 
tragedy  seemed  suddenly  to  have  stalked  in  amongst 
them.  Hassen  sprang  to  his  feet,  livid,  his  coal-black 
eyes  on  fire.  Reist  was  facing  him,  his  head  thrown 
back,  passionate,  contemptuous,  bitter.  With  a  swift, 
threatening  gesture  he  threw  out  his  arm  towards  his 
adversary. 

f~"  "  Hassen  Bey,"  he  said,  "  my  private  enemies  I  meet 
under  the  roof  of  my  friends,  and  courtesy  demands 
that  I  hold  my  peace  and  pass  on.  The  enemies  of  my 
country  I  denounce  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places.  You 
are  a  Turkish  spy,  one  of  those  of  whom  I  have  been 
speaking,  who  sought  the  hospitality  of  Theos  only  to 
scatter  gold  amongst  the  common  people  to  plot  and  in- 
trigue for  your  master,  the  Sultan.  Oh,  I  know  that 
you  are  also  a  soldier  and  a  brave  man,  for  I  have  met 
you  face  to  face  in  battle,  and  may  God  grant  that  I  do 
so  again.  Yet  you  are  a  spy  and  a  treacherous  rogue, 
and  I  am  very  thankful  that  I  have  come  here  to  tell  you 
so,  and  to  order  you  to  leave  this  roof." 

Hassen  had  recovered  himself.      He  turned  to  Erlito. 

"  The  Duke  of  Reist,"  he  said,  quietly,  "  is  a  friend 
of  yours.  Perhaps  it  is  better  that  I  should  go.  I  re- 
gret very  much  to  have  been  the  passive  cause  of  such 
an  outbreak.  Miss  Van  Decht,  you  will  accept  my 
apologies." 

Erlito  was  very  grave.  He  did  not  seem  to  see  the 
hand  which  Hassen  held  out  to  him. 

"  Hassen,"  he  said,  "  we  have  been  friends,  but  I  do 
not  understand  these  things  which  the  Duke  of  Reist 


THE  TRAITORS  27 

has  said  of  you.  You  have  spoken  of  yourself  as  a 
Frenchman — of  Theos  or  of  Turkey  I  have  heard 
nothing.  Have  you  any  explanation  to  offer  ?  " 

Hassen  shrugged  his  shoulders  lightly. 

"  My  dear  Erlito,"  he  said,  "  the  Duke  of  Reist  is  an 
honest  man,  but — he  will  forgive  me — he  is  an  anach- 
ronism. He  should  have  lived  two  centuries  ago — or, 
better  still,  he  would  have  made  an  excellent  crusader. 
The  necessities  of  modern  diplomacy  are  unknown  to 
him.  He  has  passed  all  his  days  in  a  semi-civilized 
country.  He  is  not  a  fitting  judge  of  the  things  which 
happen  to-day." 

A  sudden  lightning  flashed  in  Erlito's  blue  eyes.  He 
drew  himself  to  his  full  height,  and  pointed  towards  the 
door. 

"  That  semi-civilized  country,  sir,  is  mine  also,  and 
if  you  are  one  of  those  who  have  sought  to  corrupt  it,  I 
beg  that  you  will  leave  this  room  while  you  may  with  a 
whole  skin.  At  once,  sir  !  " 

The  imperturbability  of  the  man  was  clearly  dis- 
turbed. He  looked  at  Erlito  in  amazement.  The  face 
of  Nicholas  of  Reist  shone  with  joy. 

"  Your  country  ?  "  Hassen  repeated,  incredulously. 
"  What  have  you  to  do  with  Theos  ?  " 

Erlito  hesitated — not  so  Reist.  He  stepped  forward, 
and  the  leaping  firelight  threw  a  strange  glow  upon  his 
pale,  mobile  features. 

"  After  all,"  he  cried  to  Hassen,  "  it  seems  that  you 
are  but,  a  poor  fool  of  a  conspirator.  I  will  do  you  an 
honour  which  you  ill  deserve.  I  will  present  you  to  his 
Royal  Highness,  Prince  Ughtred,  of  Tyrnaus." 


28  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Gracious !  " 

The  single  monosyllable — from  Sara  Van  Decht — 
was  the  only  speech  which  broke  the  amazed  silence. 
She  was  leaning  forward  in  her  chair,  gazing  eagerly  at 
the  three  men,  her  beautiful  eyes  eloquent  with  excite- 
ment— a  crown  of  fire  gleaming  in  her  brown-gold  hair. 
No  one  noticed  her.  Hassen,  who  had  regained  his 
composure,  but  in  whose  face  was  written  a  deep  self- 
disgust,  moved  towards  the  door.  With  his  fingers 
upon  the  handle  he  paused  and  looked  back  at  the  little 
group. 

"  You  are  both,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "  a  little  hard 
upon  a  soldier,  and  a  servant  of  the  Sultan,  with  whom 
obedience  is  forced  to  become  an  instinct.  Of  that — 
no  more.  But  there  is  one  thing  which  you  may  call 
me  as  often  and  as  thoroughly  as  you  will,  for  it  is  as 
true  as  the  Koran,  that  I  am  an  absolute — a  blind  fool !  " 

He  passed  out,  and  they  heard  him  singing  for  the 
lift.  Sara  Van  Decht  looked  up  at  Brand,  who  was 
sitting  next  to  her.  Her  half-whispered  remark  dis- 
solved the  situation. 

"  I  suppose  that  we  are  all  awake,"  she  said.  "  I 
feel  as  though  I  wanted  to  pinch  myself  to  be  sure  of 
it." 


CHAPTER  V 

"  AND  what  has  brought  you  to  London,  Nicholas, 
my  friend  ?  "  Erlito  asked.  "  Is  it  pleasure,  or  you  have 
perhaps  a  mission  to  the  English  Government  ?  " 

It  was  the  great  moment.  Reist,  too  restless  to  sit 
down,  stood  upon  the  hearthrug,  the  angry  fire  lingering 
in  his  eyes,  a  spot  of  dull  colour  burning  still  in  his 
cheeks.  He  had  not  yet  got  over  the  shock  of  finding 
one  of  the  men  he  most  hated  and  despised  in  life  a 
guest  in  this  house  of  all  others. 

"  Pleasure,"  he  repeated,  thoughtfully.  "  People 
would  call  me  a  fanatic,  yet  nevertheless,  Ughtred,  this 
is  the  truth.  There  is  no  pleasure  for  me  outside  my 
country.  The  life  of  the  European  capitals  chokes  me. 
There  is  a  tawdriness  about  them  all,  something  artificial 
and  unreal.  I  do  not  know  how  to  describe  it,  but  it  is 
there — in  Petersburg,  in  Paris,  in  London  and  Vienna. 
It  is  like  a  gigantic  depression.  I  seem  to  become  in 
them  a  puppet,  a  shadow  walking  across  a  great  stage. 
Always  I  am  longing  to  be  back  in  Theos — in  Theos 
where  the  winds  blow  down  from  the  hills,  and  the  faces 
of  the  men  and  women  in  the  streets  are  clean  with 
health.  Ah,  my  friend,  I  know  what  you  would  say. 
The  great  cities,  too,  with  their  factories  and  huge 
buildings  which  shut  out  the  sky,  they  are  part  of  God's 
earth.  •  The  smoke  which  stains  the  heavens  comes  from 
the  making  of  useful  and  beautiful  things.  Yet  I  watch 

29 


30  THE  TRAITORS 

my  peasants  tilling  their  little  farms,  tending  their  hill- 
side vineyards,  without  luxuries,  without  knowledge  of 
luxuries,  ever  light-hearted,  contented,  strong  and 
healthy  as  children  of  the  earth  should  be.  The  love  of 
that  little  strip  of  land  9f  theirs  is  the  keynote  of  their 
patriotism.  It  is  a  passion,  a  joy  to  them.  Oh,  do  you 
wonder  that  I  think  these  things  are  best !  " 

Erlito's  eyes  were  full  of 'sympathy.  His  head  sank 
upon  his  folded  arms.  His  thoughts  travelled  back- 
wards. It  was  so  many  years  ago,  yet  he  could  re- 
member. „ 

"  Listen,  Nicholas,"  he  said.  "  I  have  travelled  much 
more  than  you.  I  have  been  in  many  strange  countries 
and  seen  life  under  many  strange  conditions.  But  all 
the  while  there  has  been  a  pain  in  my  heart.  I  have 
•  found  no  home.  I,  too,  love  Theos  !  There  will  come 
a  day  when  no  sentence  of  banishment  will  keep  me 
away."  t 

Reist  looked*  up.     The  moment  had  come. 
*     r 

41  That  day,"  he  said,  "  may  be  nearer  than  you  think. 
Ughtred,  I  have  left  Theos  on  no  slight  business.  I  am 
here  with  a  mission,  and  my  mission  is  to  you  ! " 

Erlito's  eyes  were  full  of  questioning  wonder. 

"The  accursed  Republic,"  Reist  continued,  "has 
fallen  like  a  pack  of  cards.  There  is  panic  in  the  city 
and  throughout  the  country.  Theos  knows  now  that 
she  has  been  deceived  and  misguided,  that  she  has  been 
brought  to  the  very  verge  of  ruin.  The  Powers  no 
longer  continue  to  assure  her  of  their  protection.  A 
sovereign  and  a  Tyrnaus  had  ever  a  claim  upon  them, 
not  so  this  bastard  and  bungling  Republic.  The  city  is 


THE  TRAITORS  31 

full  of  Russian  spies,  the  Austrians  watch  us  night  and 
day,  the  Turks  are  creeping  up  even  to  the  Balkans. 
Rumours  of  partition  have  reached  us  from  the  great 
Cabinets.  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  there  is  only  one  man 
to-day  who  can  save  the  country,  and  that  man  is  you." 

Erlito  dropped  his  pipe,  and  leaned  forward  in  his  chair. 

"  Are  you  mocking  me,  Reist  ?  "  he  asked.     frS 

"  May  God  forbid,"  Reist  answered,  fervently,  "  that 
I  should  speak  idle  words  upon  such  a  subject.  The 
people  of  Theos  are  still  brave  and  true,  and  their 
freedom  is  as  dear  to  them  as  life  itself.  They  came  to 
me,  who  for  long  have  lived  apart,  and  I  have  shown 
them  what  I  truthfully  believe  to  be  their  only  chance 
of  salvation.  You  are  that  chance,  Ughtred.  The 
throne  of  your  fathers  is  yours  if  you  will  have  it.  A 
brave  man  can  seize  it,  and  a  brave  man  can  hold  it  in 
the  teeth  of  all  Europe,  and  by  your  God  and  for  the 
sake  of  the  blood  which  is  in  your  veins,  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus,  I  summon  you  to  return  with  me  to  Theos." 

Erlito  rose  slowly  up.  His  cheeks  were  flushed  with 
excitement.  Reist's  appeal  had  moved  him  deeply. 

"  You  mean  this  ?  "  he  said.  "  You  mean  that  you 
bring  me  this  message  from  the  people  of  Theos  ?  " 

Reist  raised  his  hand  solemnly. 

"  I  mean  that  on  their  behalf  I,  Nicholas  of  Reist, 
than  whom  none  has  a  better  right  to  speak  for  their 
country,  offer  you  the  crown  of  Theos." 

Erlito  walked  restlessly  up  and  down  the  little  study 
into  which  he  had  brought  his  visitor. 

"  We  of  Tyrnaus,"  he  said,  "  are  under  sentence  of 
perpetual  exile." 


32  THE  TRAITORS 

"  It  was  the  illegal  sentence  of  an  illegal  assembly/* 
Reist  answered.  "  The  voice  of  the  people  has  revoked 
it.  They  bid  you  forget  all  else  save  that  your  native 
land  looks  to  you  in  her  hour  of  trouble.  Listen.  It  is 
no  rose-strewn  way  along  which  you  will  pass  to  your 
inheritance.  There  will  be  no  popular  reception,  no 
grand  ceremony.  We  must  travel  day  and  night  to 
Theos,  secretly,  perhaps  even  in  disguise.  You  must  be 
crowned  King  in  the  Palace  the  moment  we  arrive  there. 
Secretly  I  have  already  called  together  the  army,  for 
the  moment  the  news  is  known  there  will  be  a  storm. 
There  are  Russians  and  Austrian  secret  agents  in  Theos, 
each  working  for  their  own  ends.  They  believe  that  I 
have  gone  to  Vienna  and  Petersburg  to  beg  for  the 
intercession  of  the  Powers.  Meanwhile  the  Turkish 
dogs  are  creeping  up  the  Balkans.  They  are  gathered 
around  our  country,  Ughtred,  like  wreckers  waiting  for 
the  ship  to  break  up.  It  is  for  you  to  steer  that  ship 
into  safe  waters." 

There  was  a  long  silence.  Erlito  was  standing  with 
his  elbow  upon  the  mantelpiece,  looking  into  the  fire. 
In  his  heart  were  many  emotions,  in  his  face  a  strange 
light.  A  new  world  had  been  opened  up  before  him. 
He  saw  great  things  moving  across  the  vista  of  the 
future.  No  longer  then  need  he  brood  over  an  empty 
life,  or  bewail  tue  idle  sword  of  a  gentleman  of  fortune. 
Here  was  stuff  enough  to  make  a  dozen  careers,  a  future, 
successful  or  unsuccessful,  more  brilliant  than  anything 
else  which  he  could  have  conceived.  But  Reist,  who 
failed  to  read  his  companion's  thoughts,  was  troubled. 
This  prolonged  silence  was  inexplicable  to  him. 


THE  TRAITORS  33 

"  You  do  not  hesitate  ?  "  he  asked  at  last. 

Erlito  laughed  and  drew  himself  up. 

"  You  must  not  think  so  ill  of  me  as  that,  Nicholas," 
he  answered.  "  Nay,  there  was  no  thought  of  hesitation 
in  my  mind.  I  accept — gladly,  thankfully.  Only  you 
must  know  this.  Of  soldiering  I  have  learnt  a  little, 
and  nothing  would  make  me  happier  than  to  lead  the 
men  of  Theos  into  battle.  But  of  statesmanship  I  know 
little,  and  of  kingcraft  nothing  at  all.  You  must  find 
me  faithful  advisers.  You  yourself  must  stand  at  my 
right  hand." 

Then  Nicholas  of  Reist  drew  a  long  breath,  and  the 
cloud  passed  away  from  his  face. 

"  There  are  still  many  faithful  citizens,"  he  said, 
"  whom  we  can  rally  around  us,  and  I  myself — I  live 
only  for  Theos.  Let  me  tell  you  this,  for  it  will  give 
you  confidence.  It  is  a  soldier  for  whom  the  people  are 
pining.  They  want  no  more  merchants  in  high  places. 
They  shall  see  you,  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  in  the  uniform 
of  their  Guards.  They  shall  hear  you  give  the  word  of 
command,  they  will  shout  you  King — ay,  they  will  take 
you  into  their  hearts,  this  people." 

So  the  hands  of  the  two  met  in  a  long,  fervent  clasp. 
Erlito  embraced  his  destiny,  and  Reist  set  the  seal  upon 

his  renunciation. 

* 
****** 

A  King  !  As  Ughtred  fastened  his  white  tie  before 
the  tiny  mirror  upon  his  dressing-case  those  lines  at  the 
corner  of  his  mouth  gave  way.  He  suddenly  burst  out 
laughing.  A  King !  The  incongruity  of  the  thing 
tickled  his  sense  of  humour — he  laughed  long  and  heart- 


34  THE  TRAITORS 

ily.  He  looked  around  him.  His  bedchamber  was  tiny, 
and  he  had  only  been  able  to  afford  furniture  of  the 
cheapest  description.  He  looked  at  the  plain  rush  car- 
pet, the  swords  and  foils  which  were  almost  his  sole 
decoration  upon  the  walls,  the  humble  appointments  of 
his  dressing-table.  Everything  was  scrupulously  neat 
and  clean,  stern  and  soldier-like  in  simplicity.  What  a 
change  was  before  him.  From  here  to  the  royal  palace 
of  Theos,  where  a  chamberlain  would  wait  upon  him 
with  bended  knee,  and  the  small  etiquette  of  a  Court 
would  hamper  his  every  movement.  The  last  few  years 
passed  in  swift  review  before  him.  He  had  lived  always 
like  a  gentleman,  but  always  with  a  certain  amount  of 
rigid  self-denial  necessitated  by  his  small  income.  He 
had  few  acquaintances  and  fewer  friends.  The  luxury 
of  a  West-End  club  had  been  denied  to  him — fencing 
and  long  walks  were  almost  his  sole  relaxation.  All  that 
he  had  had  to  hope  for  was  the  breaking  out  of  some 
small  war  in  any  corner  of  the  world,  when  his  sword 
and  military  experience  might  give  him  a  chance  to  fol- 
low his  profession.  He  was,  if  anything,  deficient  in 
imagination,  but  he  had  humour  enough  and  to  spare. 
He  laughed  softly  as  he  donned  his  carefully-folded  and 
well-worn  dress-coat,  and  reflected  that  this  was  perhaps 
the  last  dinner  which  he  would  eat  in  such  garments 
with  companions  of  his  own  choosing.  It  was  surely  a 
strange  turn  in  the  wheel  of  fortune. 


CHAPTER  VI 

"  I  THINK  your  friend  the  Duke  of  Reist  is  a  very  in- 
teresting man,"  Sara  Van  Decht  remarked,  "  but  as  a 
dinner  companion  he's  just  a  little  depressing.  I  wonder 
what  father  and  he  will  find  to  talk  about." 

Ughtred  laughed.  They  had  just  come  out  from  the 
restaurant,  to  find  the  great  hall  almost  full.  Reist 
and  Mr.  Van  Decht  were  sitting  a  little  apart  from 
them. 

"  Reist  is  a  very  good  fellow,"  Ughtred  declared, 
"  but  just  now  he  is  not  very  much  in  the  humour  for 
gaiety.  He  is  passionately  attached  to  his  country,  and 
Theos,  alas,  is  passing  through  a  very  anxious  time  in 
her  history.  No,  you  must  not  judge  him  by  his  de- 
meanour to-night.  I  had  much  difficulty  in  persuading 
him  to  accept  your  father's  invitation." 

She  nodded  sympathetically. 

"  Has  he  come  over  to  obtain  aid  from  England  ?  " 
she  asked.  "  From  the  papers  this  morning  it  seems  as 
though  one  of  the  Powers  would  have  to  interfere  and 
straighten  things  out." 

Ughtred  looked  down  with  grave,  steadfast  eyes  into 
the  girl's  upturned  face.  It  was  time  for  him  to  tell  her. 
How  ridiculous  it  would  sound.  She  would  probably 
laugh  at  him. 

'"  Reist  came  to  England,"  he  said,  "  to  find  me." 

She  looked  at  him  in  mild  wonder. 
35 


36  THE  TRAITORS 

"  You  !     But  you  are  no  longer  interested  in  Theos, 
are  you  ?  " 
He  sighed. 
"  I  have  been  an  exile  for  many  years,"  he  said,  "and 

Theos  has  come  to  mean  little  else  to  me  save  a  beauti- 
"»••  * 

ful  memory.  Yet  I  have  never  forgotten  that  shejs_gjy 
native  country.  I  am  never  likely  to  forget  it." 

"  Do  you  hope  ever  to  return  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  hope  to  be  in  Theos  within  a  week,"  he  answered. 
"  I  am  returning  with  Reist." 

She  looked  up  at  him  startled,  but  deeply  interested. 

"  You  mean  it  ?  "  she  cried.     "  Oh,  tell  me  !  " 

"  You  have  read  of  the  downfall  of  the  Republic,"  he 
continued.  "  Reist  assures  me  that  the  people  will  never 
tolerate  another.  They  speak  already  of  a  King,  and, 
Miss  Van  Decht — you  must  not  laugh,  please — I  am  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  royal  family  of  Theos." 

She  gasped. 

"  You  are  to  be  King !  "  she  exclaimed. 

"  The  people  have  sent  for  me,"  he  answered,  simply. 
"  Of  course  there  are  difficulties,  and  after  all  it  may  not 
come  to  pass.  Still,  the  crown  is  mine  by  right,  and  I 
am  going  to  strike  a  blow  for  it.  We  leave  for  Theos 
to-morrow." 

"  A  King  !     To-morrow  !  "  she  repeated,  vaguely. 

She  was  bereft  of  words.     Ughtred  laughed  nervously. 

"  Miss  Van  Decht,"  he  said,  "  it  isn't  altogether  a 
prospect  of  fairyland.  There  are  many  things  to  be 
given  up.  There  are  many  things  which  a  man  may 
possess  but  a  King  can  only  covet.  I  have  become 
somewhat  of  a  Bohemian  in  my  wanderings,  and  my 


THE  TRAITORS  37 

freedom  is  very  dear  to  me.  Yet  I  think  that  I  am 
doing  right  in  making  this  attempt.  I  love  Theos,  and 
it  will  be  a  joy  to  fight  her  battles.  I  love  the  old  city 
and  the  mountains  and  the  wild  country.  I  may  not  be 
a  patriot  like  Nicholas  of  Reist,  but  the  old  war  music 
seems  to  leap  and  burn  in  my  blood  when  I  think  of  the 
Turks  creeping  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  frontier,  and 
our  ancient  city  full  of  foreign  spies,  gathered  together 
like  carrion  birds  before  the  massacre.  It  is  intoler- 
able ! " 

She  was  thoughtful  and  sympathetic. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  softly  j  "  it  is  right  that  you  should 
feel  like  that.  Ours  is  a  new  country,  and  there  is 
nothing  about  her  beautiful  or  historic.  Yet,  if  she 
were  in  danger — oh,  yes,  I  understand.  You  are  right 
to  go.  May  you  be  successful  !  " 

A  crash  of  martial  music  from  the  band  filled  the  air 
with  ringing  melody,  and  for  a  moment  they  sat  silent. 
Ughtred  took  up  his  as  yet  unlit  cigarette,  and  Sara 
sipped  her  coffee.  Around  them  were  little  groups  of 
men  and  brilliantly-dressed  women.  The  pleasant  hum 
of  conversation  and  light  laughter  came  to  them  with 
something  of  an  inspiring  ring.  Down  the  broad  prom- 
enade two  men  were  walking.  Sara  touched  her  com- 
panion on  the  arm  with  her  fan. 

"  Look  !  "  she  whispered. 

Ughtred  recognized  Hassen  with  a  frown,  and  his 
companion  with  a  sudden  thrill  of  interest.  They 
were  coming  slowly  down  from  the  restaurant,  talking 
earnestly  together,  and  by  the  side  of  the  tall,  dis- 
tinguished-looking man,  who  was  listening  to  him 


38  THE  TRAITORS 

with  so  inscrutable  a  countenance,  Hassen  appeared 
almost  insignificant.  Nicholas  of  Reist,  who  had 
moved  from  his  chair  to  fetch  an  evening  paper,  met 
them  face  to  face.  He  would  have  passed  on  with  a 
contemptuous  glance  at  Hassen,  but  that  the  older  man 
turned  and  accosted  him  with  grave  yet  pleasant 
courtesy. 

"  The  Duke  of  Reist  is  far  from  home !  This  is 
indeed  a  surprising  meeting." 

Reist  started  as  he  recognized  the  speaker.  He  cast 
a  single  lightning-like  glance  at  Hassen,  who  lingered  by. 

"  It  is  as  welcome  as  surprising,"  Reist  answered, 
quietly.  "  I  had  promised  myself  the  pleasure  of  paying 
my  respects  at  the  Embassy  to-morrow." 

"  You  will  not,  I  trust,  let  anything  interfere  with  so 
amiable  an  intention,"  was  the  suave  reply.  "  You  and 
I  should  have  much  to  say  to  each  other,  Reist.  You 
have  a  vacant  chair  here,  I  see.  Will  you  allow  me  to 
take  my  coffee  with  you  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  much  honoured,"  Reist  answered,  quietly. 
"  As  you  say,  there  is  much  which  we  might  discuss. 
Will  you  permit  me  to  introduce  you  to  my  friends  ? " 

The  faintest  indication  of  surprise  was  followed  by 
a  murmur  of  delighted  assent.  Hassen,  perplexed  and 
white  with  anger,  moved  away.  The  two  men  threaded 
the  little  maze  of  chairs  and  palm  trees  and  women's 
skirts,  and  reached  the  corner  where  Sara  and  Ughtred 
sat.  Reist  gravely  performed  the  introduction. 

"  Miss  Van  Decht,  will  you  allow  me  to  present  to 
you  the  Prince  Alexis  of  Ollendirk,  Miss  Van  Decht — 
Mr.  Van  Decht.  Ughtred,  I  am  sure  you  two  should 


THE  TRAITORS  39 

know  one  another.  Prince  Alexis  of  Ollendirk, 
Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus." 

The  Prince,  who  had  bowed  low  and  gracefully  to 
Sara,  held  out  his  hand  frankly  to  Ughtred. 

"  To  number  Tyrnaus  amongst  one's  acquaintances," 
he  said,  "  has  been  an  honour  for  centuries.  I  knew 
your  father,  Prince  Ughtred.  His  Majesty  was  always 
very  good  to  me.  The  Gold  Star  of  Theos  is  amongst 
the  most  treasured  of  my  possessions." 

More  coffee  was  ordered  by  Mr.  Van  Decht,  and 
cigarettes.  A  measured  and  somewhat  curious  con- 
versation followed.  The  Russian  Ambassador  talked  to 
Sara  chiefly.  Ughtred  seemed  to  interest  him  only  as  a 
pleasantly-met  acquaintance.  They  exchanged  views 
on  Paris  and  Vienna,  and  Prince  Alexis  pleaded  elo- 
quently for  the  charms  of  his  own  city.  With  consum- 
mate skill  he  led  the  conversation  to  Theos. 

"  The  most  picturesque  country  in  Europe,"  he  de- 
clared, "  to-day  I  fear  the  most  unfortunate.  You  see, 
Mr.  Van  Decht,"  he  continued,  turning  towards  him, 
"  it  is  not  always  that  a  great  country  can  exist  and  be 
developed  upon  democratic  principles.  Theos,  under 
the  royal  House  of  Tyrnaus,  had  at  least  a  recognized 
place  amongst  the  European  States.  To-day  she  has 
lost  it.  Of  her  future — no  man  can  speak  with 
certainty." 

The  Russian  leaned  back  and  lit  a  cigarette.  Yet 
Reist  felt  that  he  was  being  watched  by  those  half- 
closed,  sleepy  eyes.  He  leaned  a  little  forward  and 
lowered  his  voice. 

"I   am   a  man  of  Theos,  bred  and  born,"  he  said, 


40  THE  TRAITORS 

slowly,  "  and  the  future  of  my  country  is  as  my  own 
future.  I  am  not  in  this  bastard  government,  as  you 
doubtless  know,  Prince  Alexis,  but  I  have  the  confidence 
of  the  people.  They  have  come  to  me  for  counsel, 
they  have  asked  me  how  best  they  can  secure  their 
continued  independence.  It  is  a  great  emergency  this, 
and  since  we  have  met  here  I  am  venturing  to  ask  for 
your  advice.  You  have  a  precise  knowledge  of  the 
situation,  you  know  the  country,  the  people,  our  en- 
vironment. How  best  do  you  think  that  I  could  answer 
them  ?  " 

The  Russian  smoked  thoughtfully  for  a  moment.  In 
the  little  clouds  of  blue  smoke  which  hung  about  his 
head  he  seemed  to  be  seeking  for  inspiration.  Was  this 
simplicity,  he  wondered,  or  had  Reist  indeed  a  hidden 
purpose  in  seeking  to  make  him  declare  himself? 

"  It  is  not  an  easy  question  which  you  ask,  my  friend," 
he  answered  at  last.  "  Yet,  after  all,  I  doubt  whether 
more  than  one  course  is  open  to  those  who  would  direct 
the  destinies  of  your  country.  Theos  is  a  weak  State 
hemmed  in  by  powerful  ones.  She  is  to-day  the  certain 
prey  of  whomever  might  stretch  out  his  hand — even  her 
ancient  enemy  the  Turk.  So,  after  all,  it  is  not  difficult 
to  offer  you  good  advice.  I  would  say  to  you  this  :  Let 
her  seek  out  the  strongest,  the  most  generous  of  those 
environing  Powers,  and  say  to  her  frankly,  'Give  me 
your  protection,'  and  I  believe  that  for  the  sake  of 
peace  her  prayer  would  be  promptly  answered." 

Reist  was  silent.  Ughtred,  who  had  been  listening 
intently,  interposed. 

"The  advice,"  he  said,  "  sounds  well,  but  it  seems  to 


THE  TRAITORS  41 

me  to  have  one  weak  point.  It  is  her  independence 
which  Theos  seeks  above  all  things  to  retain.  The 
protection  of  any  one  Power  must  surely  jeopardize 
this." 

"  By  no  means,"  Prince  Alexis  answered,  blandly. 
"  Let  us  take  my  own  country  for  example.  Russia  is 
great  enough  and  generous  enough  to_befriend  a  weak- 
ened state  without  any  question  of  a  quid  pr'o  quo.  A 
love  of  peace  is  the  one  great  passion  which  sways  my 
master  in  all  his  dealings.  For  the  sake  of  it  he  would 
do  more  even  than  this." 

"  The  Czar  does  not  stand  alone,"  .Reist  remarked, 
thoughtfully.  "  He  has  many  advisers." 

"To  whom  he  listens,"  Prince  Alexis  answered, 
"  when  it  pleases  him.  It  is  said  in  this  country,  yes, 
and  in  others,  that  the  Czar  is  a  puppet.  We  who 
know  only  smile.  For,  my  dear  Reist,  it  is  true  that 
there  has  not  reigned  in  Europe  for  many  years  a  greater 
autocrat  than  he  who  sits  on  the  throne  of  Russia  to-day. 
But  to  return  to  the  subject  of  Theos.  Your  danger 
seems  to  me  to  lie  here.  Supposing  that  the  present 
state  of  disquiet  continues,  or  any  form  of  government 
be  set  up  which  does  not  seem  to  promise  permanent 
stability.  Then  it  is  very  likely  that  those  stronger 
countries  by  whom  Theos  is  surrounded  may,  in  the 
general  interests  of  peace,  deem  it  their  duty  to  interfere.". 

"  Theos,"  Reist  said,  proudly,  "  is  not  yet  a  moribund 
State.  She  has  an  army,  and  at  the  first  hint  of  in- 
vasion all  political  differences  would  cease." 

Prince  Alexis  smiled,  and  raised  his  tiny  glass  of 
liqueur. 


42  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Floreat  Theos  !  "  he  said,  lightly.  "  Long  may  she 
continue  to  retain  her  independence — and  to  know  her 
friends." 

They  all  raised  their  glasses.  From  Reist  came  a 
whisper,  little  more  than  a  breath  — 

"  Long  live  the  King  !  " 


CHAPTER  VII 

PRINCE  ALEXIS  made  the  toast  the  signal  for  his 
departure,  murmuring  something  about  a  diplomatic 
reception  which  his  duty  forbade  him  to  ignore.  In  the 
lobby  Hassen  brushed  up  against  him. 

"  A  word  with  your  Highness  outside,"  he  mur- 
mured. 

The  Ambassador  signified  assent  by  a  scarcely- 
noticeable  gesture.  He  lit  a  cigarette  and  leisurely 
buttoned  his  fur  coat.  A  swift  glance  towards  the 
little  party  in  the  corner  showed  him  that  Reist  was 
missing. 

"You  had  better  slip  into  my  carriage  quietly,"  he 
said  to  Hassen.  "  Our  good  friend  the  Duke  of  Reist 
is  on  the  lookout  somewhere,  and  it  would  be  better 
that  he  did  not  see  us  together." 

Hassen  nodded,  and  preceded  the  Ambassador,  who 
lingered  to  speak  to  some  acquaintance.  In  a  few 
moments  he  followed,  pausing  with  his  foot  upon  the 
carriage  steps  as  though  to  re-light  his  cigarette.  He 
looked  quickly  up  and  down  the  pavement.  At  the 
corner  of  Pall  Mall  and  the  Haymarket  a  man  was 
standing  with  his  face  half  turned  in  their  direction. 
He  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  entered  the  carriage. 

"  The  Duke  of  Reist  is  interested,"  he  remarked  to 
Hassen.  "  Come,  my  friend,  what  have  you  to  say  ?  " 

"  First  of  all,  then,"  Hassen  began,  "  your  bribe  to 
43 


44  THE  TRAITORS 

Metzger  was  large,  but  you  will  never  get  your  money's 
worth.  You  have  worked  hard  for  the  political  dis- 
ruption of  Theos.  It  may  chance  that  you  have  failed 
utterly." 

The  Ambassador  nodded  pleasantly. 

"  Possibly,"  he  admitted.  "  I  do  not  quite  follow  you, 
though.  Metzger  has  been  chased  from  the  country. 
There  is  no  government,  no  law,  no  order.  The  Powers 
cannot  permit  this  to  continue.  A  protectorship  will 
be  proposed  within  a  week." 

"  It  will  be  four  days  too  late,"  Hassen  answered. 
"In  less  time  than  that  Theos  will  occupy  a  stronger 
position  politically  than  ever  before." 

"  You  surprise  me,"  the  Ambassador  admitted, 
politely. 

"  Do  you  think  that  the  Duke  of  Reist  is  the  sort  of 
man  to  be  dining  at  London  restaurants  whilst  his 
country  bleeds  to  death  !  "  Hassen  exclaimed.  "  Bah  ! 
His  presence  here  with  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  to-night  is 
no  chance  affair.  There  is  a  deep  scheme  on,  and 
broadly  I  have  fathomed  it." 

"Yes?" 

"  Theos  has  had  enough  of  Republics.  She  is  going 
to  try  a  King.  It  is  Reist  himself  who  put  the  idea 
into  their  heads.  He  has  come  as  the  envoy  of  the 
people  to  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus." 

"  That,"  the  Ambassador  remarked,  "  will  not  do  at 
all." 

"  You  think  so,  knowing  nothing  of  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus.  I  know  him  well,  and  if  you  wish  Theos  to 
become  a  Russian  province  he  is  the  very  man  in 


THE  TRAITORS  45 

Europe  to  baulk  you.  He  is  brave,  shrewd,  patriotic, 
and  a  fine  soldier.  If  he  ever  reaches  Theos  the  people 
will  worship  him.  He  will  make  order  out  of  chaos. 
He  will  hold  the  reins  and  he  will  be  proof  against  the 
wiles  of  your  agents.  Short  of  absolute  force  you  will 
not  be  able  to  dislodge  him." 

"  He  must  not  reach  Theos,"  the  Ambassador  said, 
thoughtfully.  "  The  man's  very  physique  will  win  him 
the  throne  .  .  .  and  I  believe  that  you  are  right. 
The  House  of  Tyrnaus  has  never  been  friendly  to- 
wards Russia.  What  will  your  master  say,  Hassen  ?  " 

The  man  smiled  grimly. 

"  Do  we  want  a  soldier  King  in  Theos  ?  "  he  asked, 
"when  our  soldiers  are  creeping  northwards  to  the 
Balkans  day  by  day  ?  You  are  ready  to  seize  by 
intrigue  and  by  stealth — we  are  preparing  to  strike  a 
blow  of  another  sort." 

The  Ambassador  smiled.  The  Turkish  soldiers  were 
brave  enough,  but  in  Constantinople  at  that  moment 
was  a  Russian  envoy  on  secret  business,  who  had  very 
definite  instructions  as  to  the  occupation  of  Theos.  It 
is  possible,  however,  that  Prince  Alexis  had  forgotten 
the  fact,  for  he  did  not  mention  it. 

"  At  least,"  he  said,  "  one  thing  is  clear.  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  must  be  delayed." 

Hassen  shrugged  his  shoulders.  The  gesture  was 
expressive. 

"  It  will  be  worth — say  five  thousand  pounds  to  you," 
the  Ambassador  remarked,  carelessly,  "  to  make  sure 
of  it." 

Hassen    nodded    and    stepped    out    of    the    carriage. 


46  THE  TRAITORS 

They  had  drawn  up  before  one  of  the  embassies,  and 
his  arrival  with  Prince  Alexis  was  not  a  thing  to  be 
advertised. 

"  I  shall  do  my  best,"  he  said,  slipping  away  in  the 
crowd. 


"  Why,  yes,  I  shall  miss  you.     Isn't  that  natural  ?  " 

"  I  hope  so,"  he  answered.  "  I  shall  never  forget 
these  days."  She  laughed  gaily.  The  music  was 
playing  something  very  soft  and  low.  Reist  had  not 
yet  reappeared. 

"  Isn't  that  a  little  rash,  my  friend  ?  You  love  ex- 
periences, and  you  are  going  to  enter  upon  a  very 
wonderful  life.  You  are  much  to  be  envied." 

"  Sara,"  he  said,  "  you  must  come  to  Theos." 

She  laughed  outright  in  frank  and  unrestrained  merri- 
ment. 

"  You  must  talk  to  father,"  she  said.  "  I  dare  say  he 
will  come.  He  loves  new  countries.  Only  I'm  sure 
he  won't  behave  properly  at  Court.  He's  a  terrible 
democrat,  and  he  likes  to  shake  hands  with  everybody." 

"  He  shall  shake  hands  with  me  as  often  as  he  likes," 
Ughtred  said.  "You  must  remember,  Sara,  that 
royalty  in  Theos  is  not  exactly  like  royalty  in  this 
country.  Why,  my  whole  domain  is  not  so  large  as 
some  English  counties.  I  mean  to  go  about  my  king- 
dom exactly  like  a  private  individual.  Come  to  Theos, 
and  we  will  play  racquets  in  the  throne  room." 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  The  smaller  the  kingdom,  as  a  rule,"  she  said,  "  the 


THE  TRAITORS  47 

more  circumstance  and  etiquette  surround  the  Court.  I 
do  not  think  that  you  will  be  allowed  to  play  racquets  in 
the  throne  room,  or  to  shake  hands  very  often  with  a 
Chicago  stock-jobber,  even  though  he  is  my  father.  We 
shall  come  and  gaze  upon  you  from  afar." 

"  So  long  as  you  will  come,"  he  replied,  confidently, 
"  we  will  see  about  the  rest.  Do  you  know,  Sara,  it 
would  almost  spoil  everything  if  I  felt  that  this  change 
in  my  life  were  to  disturb — our  friendship." 

She  drew  a  long  palm  leaf  through  her  fingers  and  let 
it  fall  regretfully.  It  was  cool  and  pleasant  to  the  touch. 
A  violin,  hidden  somewhere  amongst  the  waving  green, 
sent  strange  notes  of  melody  out  through  the  court,  and 
a  little  man,  bravely  dressed  in  scarlet  and  yellow, 
bobbed  up  and  down  over  his  instrument.  The  girl  was 
thinking — wondering  !  It  was  so  sudden  a  change,  this. 
Ughtred_  grlito  had  been  a  delightful  friend — but  Ughtred 
of  Tyrnaus  !  It  was  so  strange  a  transition.  She  kept 
her  eyes  fixed  upon  the  marble  floor,  and  her  heart  beat 
for  a  moment  or  two  to  the  sad  music  of  the  wailing 
violin.  Then  she  sprang  to  her  feet — the  folly  had 
passed.  With  one  sudden  movement  one  of  the  little 
ornaments  hanging  from  her  bracelet  became  detached 
and  rolled  away.  Ughtred  recovered  it,  and  would  have 
fastened  it  upon  the  gold  wire,  but  she  stopped  him. 

"It  is  my  four-leaved  clover,"  she  said.  "  See,  I  shall 
give  it  to  you.  May  it  bring  you  good  fortune.  Floreat 
Theos  !  " 

He  held  it  in  his  palm — a  dainty  ornament  set  with 
diamonds  and  quaintly  shaped. 

"  Do  you  mean  it  ?  "  he  asked. 


48  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Why,  of  course,"  she  answered.  tc  If  it  is  not  ex- 
actly a  coronation  present,  it  will  at  least  help  to  remind 
you — of  the  days  before  you  were  a  King." 

"I  need  no  trinkets  to  remind  me  of  some  things," 
he  answered,  quietly,  "  but  Theos  will  give  me  nothing 
which  I  shall  prize  more  than  this.  I  shall  keep  it, 
too,  as  a  pledge  of  your  promise.  You  will  come  to 
Theos  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will  come,"  she  answered. 

Nicholas  of  Reist  was  by  their  side,  dark,  almost 
saturnine  in  his  black  evening  clothes  and  tie.  His 
presence  had  a  chilling  effect  upon  them  both.  Sara 
rose  to  her  feet. 

"  Will  you  see  if  you  can  find  father  ? "  she  said  to 
Ughtred.  "  He  was  talking  to  some  Americans  who 
went  into  the  restaurant." 

He  moved  away.     She  turned  quickly  to  Reist. 

"  I  wanted  to  ask  you,"  she  said.  "  You  live  in 
Theos,  and  you  can  give  me  an  idea.  What  is  there 
that  I  can  send  Prince  Ughtred  for  a  coronation 
present  ?  " 

"  That  is  a  very  difficult  question  to  answer,"  Reist 
said.  "  Will  you  not  be  a  little  more  explicit  ?  A 
steam  yacht  would  be  a  present,  so  would  a  cigarette- 
case." 

She  nodded  quickly. 

"  Yes !  I  should  have  explained.  Money  is  of  no 
consequence  at  all.  I  had  thought  of  a  team  of  horses 
and  a  coach." 

He  was  suddenly  serious.  He  eyed  the  girl  with  a 
new  curiosity.  She  then  was  one  of  the  daughters  of 


THE  TRAITORS  49 

this  new  world  before  whose  golden  key  every  Court  in 
Europe  had  yielded.  She  was  of  striking  appearance, 
perhaps  beautiful,  instinctively  well  bred.  She  might  be 
destined  to  play  a  part  in  the  affairs  of  TheoSo 

" '  Money  is  of  no  consequence  at  all,'  "  he  repeated, 
thoughtfully.  "  We  are  poor  folk  in  Theos,  Miss  Van 
Decht,  and  we  do  not  often  hear  such  words." 

"  Sometimes  I  think,"  she  said, "  that  our  wealth  is  our 
misfortune.  Now  you  understand,  don't  you  ?  Prince 
Ughtred  was  very  kind  to  us  at  Cairo  and  on  the  voyage 
back,  and  we  have  seen  quite  a  little  of  him  in  London. 
I  should  like  to  give  him  something  really  useful.  Please 
suggest  something." 

"  I  will  take  you  at  your  word  then,  Miss  Van 
Decht,"  he  answered.  "Send  him  a  Maxim-Norden- 
feld  gun.  If  you  want  to  be  magnificent,  send  him  a 
battery." 

She  looked  at  him  in  amazement. 

"  Do  you  mean  it  ?  "  she  exclaimed. 

"  I  do,"  he  answered.  "  Prince  Ughtred  is  a  very 
keen  soldier,  and  he  is  never  tired  of  praising  these 
guns.  For  the  first  year  or  two  at  the  least  we  shall 
have  troublous  times,  and  a  battery  of  maxims  might 
save  all  our  lives  and  the  throne.  Theos  has,  alas,  no 
money  to  spend  in  artillery,  though  her  soldiers  are  as 
brave  as  any  in  the  world." 

"  Father  and  I  will  see  about  it  to-morrow,"  she  de- 
clared. "  Hush  !  here  they  come." 

Ughtred  was  approaching  with  her  father,  and  watch- 
ing him  it  occurred  to  her  for  the  first  time  how  well  his 
new  part  in  life  would  become  him.  He  was  tall  and 


50  THE  TRAITORS 

broad,  and  he  moved  with  the  free,  easy  dignity  of  a 
soldier  accustomed  to  command. 

"  I  have  found  your  father,"  he  said,  "  and  your  car- 
riage is  waiting.  I  thought  that  if  Reist  would  excuse 
me  for  half-an-hour " 

Reist  interrupted  him  at  once. 

"You  must  not  go  away,"  he  declared,  earnestly. 
"  Not  for  five  minutes.  Believe  me  it  is  necessary." 

"  My  dear  fellow "  Ughtred  protested. 

"  Is  it  possible,"  Reist  exclaimed,  with  some  impa- 
tience, "  that  you  do  not  recognize  the  great  misfortune 
of  this  evening  ?  I  was  wrong  to  allow  you  to  come — 
to  be  seen  in  London  with  you.  Prince  Alexis  is  more 
than  an  ordinary  ambassador.  He  is  a  born  diplomatist, 
a  true  Russian — he  is  one  of  the  clique  who  to-day  rule 
the  country.  With  Hassen's  aid  he  has,  without  a 
doubt,  surmised  the  purport  of  my  visit  to  you.  By  this 
time  he  is  hard  at  work.  Let  me  tell  you  that  if  he  can 
prevent  it  you  will  never  set  foot  in  Theos.  There 
must  be  no  more  delay.  Come  !  " 

Sarah  held  out  her  hand.     Her  eyes  met  his  frankly. 

"The  Duke  of  Reist  must  be  obeyed,"  she  said.  "I 
am  sure  that  he  is  right.  Good-bye,  Prince  Ughtred  ! 
You  are  very  fortunate,  for  you  have  a  great  and  noble 
work  before  you.  May  you  succeed  in  it.  I  shall  hope 
and  pray  for  your  success." 

A  little  abruptly  she  turned  away  and  took  her  father's 
arm.  The  two  men  watched  them  disappear — the  little 
grey-headed  man  with  his  ill-cut  clothes,  and  hard, 
shrewd  face,  and  the  tall,  graceful  girl,  whose  toilette 
was  irreproachable,  and  whose  carriage  and  bearing 


THE  TRAITORS  51 

moved  even  Reist  to  admiration.  They  passed  down 
the  carpeted  way  and  through  the  swing-doors.  Then 
Reist  touched  his  companion  on  the  arm. 

"  It  is  half-past  eleven,"  he  said.     "  We  are  going  to 
catch  the  twelve  o'clock  train  from  Charing  Cross." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  whistle  sounded  at  last,  the  train  began  to  glide 
slowly  away  from  the  almost  deserted  platform.  But 
at  the  last  moment  a  man  came  running  through  the 
booking-office,  and  made  for  one  of  the  compartments. 
He  tugged  at  the  handle,  wrenched  it  open,  and  was 
preparing  for  a  flying  leap  when  an  inspector  seized  him. 
There  was  an  altercation,  a  violent  struggle — the  man 
was  left  upon  the  platform.  Reist  drew  a  long  breath 
of  relief  as  he  settled  down  in  his  corner. 

"  The  way  these  things  are  managed  in  England,"  he 
said,  u  it  is  excellent." 

Ughtred  shrugged  his  shoulders.  Reist  had  been 
dumb  for  the  last  half-hour,  and  he  was  puzzled. 

"  Will  you  tell  me  now,"  he  asked,  "  the  meaning  of 
it  all?" 

"  The  meaning  of  it  all  is — Hassen  ! "  Reist  an- 
swered. "  How  long  have  you  known  him  ?  " 

"  We  fought  together  in  Abyssinia,"  Ughtred  an- 
swered, "  and  I  found  him  always  a  capital  soldier  and  a 
pleasant  companion." 

"  Did  you  ever  ask  him  where  he  learnt  his  soldier- 
ing ?  " 

"  Once— yes  !  " 

"  Did  he  tell  you  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  think  that  he  did.  He  told  me  frankly 
enough  that  he  had  no  past — that  it  was  not  to  be  re- 

52 


THE  TRAITORS  53 

ferred  to.  There  were  others  like  that  in  the  campaign, 
men  who  had  secrets  to  bury,  men  who  sought  forget- 
ful ness,  even  that  forgetfulness  which  a  bullet  brings. 
We  were  a  strange  company  enough.  But  the  fighting 
was  good." 

"And  since  then  you  have  met  him  again  in  England  ?  " 

"  I  met  him  at  a  little  fencing-academy  six  months 
ago,  and  since  then  we  have  fenced  together  continually. 
But  for  your  recognition  of  him  I  should  have  written 
him  down  as  harmless." 

A  spot  of  colour  burned  in  Reist's  cheek.  He  ground 
his  heel  into  the  mat. 

"  Harmless  !  He  !  A  Turk  !  A  Russian  spy  !  A 
double-dealing  rogue.  Sword  in  hand  I  have  chased 
him  through  the  Kunljsjtan  valley  all  one  night,  and  if  I 
had  caught  him  then  Russia  would  have  lost  a  tool  and 
the  Sultan  a  traitorous  soldier.  He  holds  still,  although 
an  absentee,  a  high  command  in  the  Turkish  army,  and 
all  the  while  he  is  in  the  pay  of  Russia.  Prince  Alexis 
knows  of  my  mission  to  you  by  now,  and  if  we  reach 
Theos  we  are  lucky,  for  I  do  not  think  that  a  Tyrnaus 
upon  the  throne  of  Theos  would  suit  Russia  at  all." 

"  I  may  seem  stupid,"  Ughtred  said,  seriously,  "  but 
it  is  necessary  that  I  should  understand  these  things. 
Why  should  Russia  object  so  much  to  my  reinstatement 
upon  the  throne  of  my  fathers  ?  Surely  of  all  the 
nations  of  Europe  one  would  expect  from  her  the  least 
sympathy  with  a  democratic  form  of  government." 

"  Russia  is  above  all  sympathies  or  antipathies,"  Reist 
answered,  bitterly.  "  She  is  the  most  self-centred,  the 
most  absolutely  selfish  nation  on  earth.  The  present 


54  THE  TRAITORS 

state  of  turmoil  in  Theos  is  owing  largely  to  the  efforts  of 
Muscovite  secret  agents.  Russia  desires  a  weak  Theos. 
She  wants  to  stand  behind  the  government  and  pull  the 
strings.  It  is  she  whom  we  have  most  to  fear  now." 

Ughtred  lit  a  cigar  and  leaned  back  in  his  corner. 
He  was  still  in  his  evening  clothes,  and  he  looked  doubt- 
fully at  the  window-panes  streaming  with  rain. 

44  Neither  Russia  nor  her  agents  can  interfere  with  us 
on  neutral  soil,"  he  remarked.  "  I  wish,  Reist,  that 
you  had  let  me  send  for  my  bag.  I  shall  be  a  very 
dilapidated  object  by  the  time  we  reach  the  frontier." 

"  My  wardrobe,"  Reist  answered,  "  is  at  your  service 
immediately  we  are  upon  the  boat.  I  am  smaller  than 
you,  but  I  have  some  things  which  may  be  useful.  Now 
I  will  tell  you  something  which  will  help  to  explain  my 
haste.  When  first  I  saw  Hassen  and  Prince  Alexis 
together  I  understood  that  we  must  change  our  plans, 
and  I  sent  for  your  bag.  Your  rooms  were  then  being 
watched  front  and  back.  My  servant  bribed  a  postman 
to  go  to  your  door  and  ask  for  you.  He  discovered  that 
a  gentleman  was  already  in  your  rooms  waiting  for  you. 
They  are  very  much  in  earnest,  these  people,  my  Prince. 
It  will  need  all  our  wit  to  reach  Theos." 

"  We  will  reach  it,  though,"  Ughtred  said,  softly. 
44  We  are  on  our  guard,  and  there  can  be  no  means  of 
forcibly  detaining  us.  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  we  shall 
be  at  Dover." 

Reist  nodded.  He  was  examining  the  chambers  of  a 
revolver  which  he  had  drawn  from  the  pocket  of  a  loose 
ulster. 

nfy*»"«»fn 

44  T,et  us  remember,"  he  said,  44  to  avoid  all  strangers 


THE  TRAITORS  55 

and  to  speak  to  no  one  unless  compelled.  We  know 
nothing  of  Theos.  We  are  returning  to  Budapesth,  and, 
Prince  Ughtred,  there  is  a  revolver  in  the  pocket  of  your 
coat  also,  not  for  use  but  for  show.  We  must  not  be 
led  into  a  disturbance  with  any  one.  Mind,  it  is  the 
policy  of  every  one  to  detain  us  if  once  the  object  of  our 
journey  is  known.  In  Germany  we  shall  not  be  safe, 
in  Austria  every  moment  will  be  perilous.  But  once 
across  the  frontier  nothing  will  avail.  I  had  news  from 
Theos  this  morning.  The  people  are  on  fire  for  your 
coming." 

The  train  slackened  speed.  The  lights  of  Dover 
flashed  out  on  either  side.  They  drew  up  at  the  town 
station  and  waited  there  for  some  minutes.  Reist  let 
down  the  window  and  addressed  a  porter. 

"  Why  do  we  not  go  on  to  the  harbour  ?  "  he  asked. 
"  We  are  already  late." 

"  There  is  a  special  coming  in  just  behind  you,  sir," 
the  man  answered.  "  We  shall  send  you  both  along 
together." 

Reist  thanked  him  and  turned  to  Ughtred  with  a  little 
laugh. 

"  So  we  are  to  have  a  travelling  companion,"  he  re- 
marked, dryly.  "  Our  friends  are  not  to  be  caught 
asleep.  We  must  watch  for  the  occupant  of  this  special 
train.  We  shall  know  then  against  whom  we  have  to 
be  upon  our  guard." 

They  moved  slowly  on  again.  Behind  them  was  an 
engine  and  a  single  carriage.  Reist  let  down  both 
windows,  and  a  fresh  salt  wind  blew  in  upon  their  faces. 
In  a  few  moments  they  were  at  the  landing-stage. 


56  THE  TRAITORS 

Reist  leaped  lightly  out,  and  Ughtred  followed  him. 
Opposite  was  the  gangway  leading  to  the  steamer, 
through  which  a  little  crowd  of  passengers  were  already 
elbowing  their  way.  They  lingered  on  its  outskirts  and 
watched  the  single  carriage  drawn  by  the  second  engine. 
It  drew  up  within  a  few  feet  of  them,  and  a  tall,  fair 
young  man  handed  out  his  portmanteau  to  one  of  the 
porters  and  leisurely  descended  on  to  the  platform. 
Ughtred  recognized  him  with  a  little  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise. 

"  Why,  it's  Brand  ! " 

He  would  have  moved  forward  but  for  Reist's  re- 
straining arm. 

"  Wait !     Who  is  he  ?  " 

"A  newspaper  man,"  Ughtred  answered.  "An 
honest  fellow  and  a  friend.  I  will  answer  for  him." 

"  He  was  at  your  rooms  with  Hassen,"  Reist  said, 
quickly.  "  I  would  trust  no  one  whom  I  had  seen  with 
that  man.  Let  him  pass.  We  will  follow  him  on 
board." 

But  it  was  too  late.  Brand  possessed  the  quick, 
searching  gaze  of  a  journalist,  and  already,  with  a  little 
start  of  surprise,  he  had  recognized  them. 

"  Erlito,"  he  exclaimed.     "  What  luck  !  " 

Erlito  shook  hands  with  him,  laughing.  They  turned 
towards  the  boat  together. 

"  Have  you  become  a  millionaire,  my  friend,"  he 
asked,  "that  you  must  travel  in  special  trains  ?  " 

Brand  shook  hisjiead. 

"  Personally,"  he  remarked,  "  I  am  in  my  usual  la- 
mentable state  of  impccuniosity.  Nevertheless,  for  the. 


THE  TRAITORS  57 

moment  I  am  representing  wealth  illimitable.  That  is 
to  say,  I  am  in  harness  again." 

Reist  looked  askance  at  them  both.  He  did  not  un- 
derstand. Ughtred  was  suddenly  grave. 

"I  must  ask  you  where  you  are  going,"  he  said. 
"  There  is  no  rumour  of  war,  is  there  ?  " 

Brand  hesitated. 

"  Speaking  broadly,"  he  answered,  "  I  have  no  right 
to  tell  you.  But  the  circumstances  of  our  meeting  are 
peculiar.  To  tell  you  the  truth,  I  am  bound  for 
Theos." 

Reist's  face  was  dark  with  anger — Ughtred's  blank 
with  amazement.  Brand  hastened  to  explain. 

"  The  Duke  of  Reist,"  he  said,  "  probably  does  not 
understand  my  position.  I  am  a  special  correspondent 
to  the  Daily  Courier.  They  send  me  at  a  moment's 
notice  to  any  place  where  interesting  events  are  likely  to 
happen.  Our  chief  has  been  studying  the  aspect  of 
things  in  Theos,  and  half-an-hour  ago  I  had  my  route. 
It  was  the  same,  Erlito,  when  I  travelled  with  you  to 
Abyssinia !  " 

Ughtred  nodded  thoughtfully. 

"That  is  true,"  he  remarked.  "Rejstj^I  am  sure 
that  we  can  trust  Mr.  Brand.  He  is  not  in  league  with 
any  of  those  who  would  hinder  us  upon  our  journey." 

"  That  may  be  so,"  Reist  answered,  "  but  he  knows 
too  much  for  our  safety.  There  must  be  an  under- 
standing between  us.  A  single  paragraph  in  his  news- 
paper to-morrow  as  to  our  journey,  and  we  shall  have  as 
much  chance  of  reaching  the  moon  as  Theos." 

Brand,    who    was    writing    upon    a    telegraph-form, 


58  THE  TRAITORS 

paused  at  once.  They  were  on  the  side  of  the  steamer, 
remote  from  the  bustle  of  departure,  and  almost 
alone. 

"  There  is  likely  to  be  trouble,  then,  on  the  frontier, 
or  before?  "  he  inquired.  "You  have  opponents?"  ./*' 

"  So  much  so,"  Reist  answered,  fiercely,  "  that  if  we 
were  in  Theos  now,  and  you  talked  of  filling  the  news- 
papers with  idle  gossip  of  us  and  our  affairs,  we  should 
not  stop  to  argue  the  matter  with  you." 

Brand  laughed  softly. 

"  I  don't  want  to  do  you  any  harm,"  he  said.  "  We 
must  compromise  matters." 

Reist  misunderstood  him. 

u  An  affair  of  money,"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  under- 
stand. We  will  give  your  paper  one,  two  hundred 
pounds,  to  make  no  mention  of  Theos  for  a  week." 

Brand  glanced  at  Ughtred  with  twinkling  eyes. 

"  The  special  train  which  brought  me  here  cost  more 
than  that,  I  am  afraid,"  he  said.  "  Believe  me,  Duke, 
it  is  not  a  matter  of  money  at  all.  The  proprietors  of 
my  paper  are  millionaires.  What  they  want  is  informa- 
tion. When  I  spoke  of  a  compromise  I  meant  some- 
thing entirely  different." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  explain  exactly  what  you 
mean,"  Reist  said,  curtly.  "  I  do  not  understand  this 
Western  journalism.  It  is  new  to  me." 

Brand  nodded. 

"  Good  !  "  he  said.  "  You  want  to  keep  this  journey 
secret  until  you  are  safe  in  Theos.  Very  well,  I  will 
send  no  message  to  my  people  until  you  give  me  leave. 
Only  you  must  supply  me  then  with  ex^lusjye  informa- 


THE  TRAITORS  59 

tion.  And  you  must  see  that  I  am  the  first  to  cable  it 
from  your  country." 

"  That  is  an  agreement,"  Reist  answered,  solemnly. 
"  If  you  will  keep  to  that  I  am  satisfied." 

They  were  already  in  the  Channel.  A  wave  broke 
over  the  bows  of  the  vessel,  drenching  them  with  spray. 
Brand  led  the  way  down-stairs. 

"  Since  we  are  to  be  fellow-passengers,"  he  said,  "  let 
us  drink  to  our  prosperous  journey — and  Theos." 

Reist  touched  Ughtred's  arm  upon  the  stairs. 

"  He  is  to  be  trusted,  this  friend  of  yours  ?  "  he 
whispered,  anxiously. 

"  Implicitly,"  Ughtred  answered,  with  emphasis. 

"  Then  we  are  very  fortunate,"  Reist  said,  "  for  it  is 
such  a  man  as  this  whom  we  wanted." 


CHAPTER  IX 

"  MONSIEUR  will  pardon  me  !  " 

Ughtred  glanced  up,  startled.  For  an  hour  or  more 
he  had  been  watching  with  fascinated  eyes  the  great 
rolling  pine  forests  through  which  the  train  was  rushing. 
Brand  and  Reist  were  in  the  restaurant-car — Ughtred 
was  rapidly  becoming  too  excited  to  eat.  They  had  en- 
tered upon  the  last  stage  of  their  journey.  Somewhere 
away  beyond  that  dim  line  of  mountains  was  Theos. 
So  far  they  had  been  neither  accosted  nor  watched. 
This  was  the  first  stranger  who  had  addressed  a  word  to 
either  of  them. 

"  You  wished  for  a  seat  here  ?  "  Ughtred  asked. 

The  priest,  who  had  come  through  from  the  dining- 
car,  held  between  his  fingers  an  unlit  cigar.  His  fat, 
good-humoured  face  was  a  little  flushed.  He  had  the 
appearance  of  a  man  who  has  found  his  dinner  a  satis- 
factory meal. 

41  It  is  your  coupe,  I  understand,  monsieur,"  he  an- 
swered, "  but  the  smoking-car  is  full.  I  wondered  if 
monsieur  would  permit  me  to  occupy  his  friend's  seat 
until  he  returns.  One  misses  a  smoke  so  much." 

He  looked  longingly  at  the  cigar.  Ughtred  rose  and 
cleared  off  the  rugs  and  papers  which  were  spread  over 
the  vacant  seats. 

44  My  friends,  I  am  sure,  will  have  no  objection,"  he 
declared.  "  I  think  that  there  is  room  for  all  of  us." 

60 


THE  TRAITORS  61 

The  priest  was  volubly  thankful.  He  lit  his  cigar 
and  puffed  at  it  with  obvious  pleasure. 

"  Monsieur  is  doubtless  a  great  traveller,"  he  re- 
marked, urbanely.  "  For  me  a  journey  such  as  this  is 
an  event — a  wonderful  event.  Not  once  in  many  years 
do  I  leave  my  people.  Monsieur  will  be  amused,  but  it 
is  indeed  ten  years  since  I  found  myself  in  a  railway 
train." 

Ughtred  was  reserved,  but  the  priest  was  quite  willing 
to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  conversation  so  long  as  he  had 
a  listener.  It  appeared  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  visit 
his  brother,  who  was  a  prosperous  merchant  in  Bel- 
grade. And  monsieur  ? — if  he  were  not  too  inquisitive 
— should  he  have  the  pleasure  of  his  company  all  the 
way  ? 

Ughtred  hesitated  for  the  fraction  of  a  second.     Reist 

was  passing  along  the  corridor  with  imperturbable  face, 

but  with  his  cap'  in  hjsjhand — an  agreed  upon  sign  of 

danger.     So    Ughtred,   to   whom    a   lie   was   as   poison, 

~Hraced  himself  for  the  effort. 

"  I  go  even  farther  than  you,"  he  declared.  "  My 
journey  is  not  ended  at  Constantinople." 

The  priest's  fat  face  was  wrinkled  into  smiles.  It 
was  most  fortunate — his  own  good  fortune.  For  him- 
self he  was  so  unaccustomed  to  travel  that  he  found  it 
impossible  to  read.  He  was  excited — besides,  it  gave 
him  the  headache.  To  converse  only  was  possible.  But 
after  all  he  had  no  right  to  inflict  himself  thus  upon 
morrsieur.  He  had  perhaps  affairs  to  attend  to — or  he 
desired  to  sleep  ?  Ughtred,  who  found  it  impossible  to 
suspect  this  fat,  simple-mannered  man  so  shabbily 


62  THE  TRAITORS 

dressed,  so  wrapped  in  enjoyment  of  his  bad  cigar, 
smiled,  and  shook  his  head.  They  drifted  into  conver- 
sation. Ughtred  learned  the  entire  village  history  of 
Baineuill,  and  was  made  acquainted  with  the  names  and 
standing  of  each  of  its  inhabitants  from  Jean  the  smith 
to  Monsieur  le  Comte,  who  was  an  infidel,  and  whose 
house-parties  were  as  orgies  of  the  evil  one»  +jf^r£\ffl 

"And  monsieur,"  the  priest  asked/  ingenuously. 
"  monsieur  is  perhaps  a  soldier  ?  I  have  talked  so  long 
of  my  own  poor  affairs.  It  must  be  tedious." 

Just  then  Reist  and  Brand  passed  along  the  corridor, 
laughing  heartily.  Brand  paused,  and  with  a  bow  to  the 
priest  held  out  a  paper  to  Ughtred. 

"  Read  that,  Brand  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  These  papers 
are  the  drollest  in  the  world." 

Ughtred  looked  up  puzzled,  but  took  the  paper  held 
out  insistently  towards  him.  At  the  bottom  of  an  illus- 
tration were  a  few  pencilled  words. 

"  Be  careful !  Remember  !  You  are  W.  B.  The 
priest  has  been  asking  questions  about  us !  " 

Ughtred  read,  and  smiled.  The  priest  leaned  for- 
ward. 

"  It  is  a  joke,  eh  ?  Monsieur  will  permit  me  also  ? 
It  is  good  to  laugh." 

Brand  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  took  the  paper 
quickly  away  from  Ughtred. 

"  Monsieur,"  he  said,  removing  his  cap,  "  the  joke 
which  I  pointed  out  to  my  friend  has,  without  doubt, 
humour,  but  the  journal,  as  you  see,  is  for  the  students. 
Monsieur  will  excuse  me  if  I  refrain  from  offering  it  to 
him." 


THE  TRAITORS  63 

The  priest  acquiesced  with  a  graver  face,  and  some 
show  of  dignity. 

"  But  I  fear,  monsieur,"  he  said  to  Brand,  "  that  I  am 
occupying  your  seat.  You  wish  to  return  here,  beyond 
a  doubt  ? " 

Brand  shook  his  head. 

"  By  no  means,  monsieur,"  he  declared.  "  For  the 
present,  at  any  rate,  I  am  engaged  elsewhere." 

They  passed  along  the  corridor.  Glancing  up  at  the 
priest,  Ughtred  was  aware  of  a  slight  change  in  his  ex- 
pression. His  brows  were  contracted,  he  was  immersed 
in  thought.  The  change  was  momentary,  however. 
Soon  he  was  again  chattering  away — still  always  of  his 
own  affairs.  But  there  came  a  time  when  he  wound  up 
a  little  speech  with  a  question. 

"  Is  it  not  so,  Monsieur  Brand — was  not  that  how 
your  friend  called  you  ?  " 

Ughtred  assented. 

"  My  name  is  Walter  Brand,"  he  answered. 

Again  there  came  that  faint  change  in  the  priest's  face. 

"  Monsieur  will  not  think  me  curious,"  he  said.  "  He 
is  perhaps  a  soldier  ?  " 

Ughtred  shook  his  head. 

"  I  have  seen  some  fighting,"  he  said,  "  but  I  am  not 
a  soldier.  I  am  a  journalist,  if  you  know  what  that 
means — one  who  writes  for  the  newspapers.  My  friend 
whom  you  saw  speak  to  me  just  now  is  a  soldier  by 
profession." 

The  priest  nodded  pleasantly. 

"  And  he,  like  yourself,"  he  asked,  "  is  he,  too, 
English  ?  " 


64  THE  TRAITORS 

Ughtred  looked  around,  and  lowered  his  voice. 

u  He  has  been  in  the  English  army,  but  he  is  not  an 
Englishman.  He  has  had  a  very  unfortunate  history.  I 
Wish  that  I  could  tell  it  to  you,  but  the  time  is  too  short, 
and  he  does  not  like  to  be  talked  about." 

The  priest's  face  shone  with  sympathy. 

"  Poor  fellow  !  "  he  murmured. 

u  Brand  !  " 

They  both  looked  up.  Brand  himself  had  entered  the 
coupe.  There  was  a  slight  frown  upon  his  forehead,  and 
his  tone  was  curt. 

"  I  wish  you  would  explain  to  the  conductor  about 
our  tickets,"  he  said.  "  He  is  very  stupid,  and  I  cannot 
make  him  understand." 

Ughtred  rose  at  once  and  left  the  coupe.  Brand 
bowed  gravely  to  the  priest. 

"  I  trust  monsieur  will  excuse  me,"  he  said,  "  for  in- 
terrupting what  I  am  sure  must  have  been  a  very  agree- 
able conversation." 

The  slight  foreign  accent  was  beautifully  done. 
Brand  was  as  tall  as  Ughtred,  and  although  not  so  broad 
his  carriage  was  good  and  his  natural  air  one  of 


^.tion.     The  priest  smiled  benignly  upon  him. 

"  I  fear,"  he  said,  "  that  I  have  already  wearied  your 
friend.  My  life  must  seem  so  humdrum  to  him,  and  to 
you,  who  have  travelled  so  far  and  seen  so  much.  For 
I,  monsieur,  as  I  have  told  your  friend,  have  lived  all  my 
days  in  one  quiet  country  place,  and  this  journey  is  a 
great  event  for  me." 

Brand  slipped  into  the  vacant  seat.  In  the  vestibule 
Ughtred  met  Reist.  He  drew  him  into  the  smoking- 


THE  TRAITORS  65 

compartment.  He  was  very  pale,  and  his  voice  shook 
with  emotion. 

"  The  priest,"  he  said,  "  is  a  creature  of  DomiloiPg. 
You  were  on  your  guard  ?  " 

Ughtred  nodded. 

"What  a  famous  fellow  Brand  is.  Up  to  now,  at 
any  rate,  his  scheme  has  worked.  He  is  personating  me 
bravely,  and  really  we  are  very  much  ajikg." 

"  He  will  be  too  clever  for  him,"  Reist  said.  "  It  is 
a  matter  of  time.  Do  you  know  that  in  half-an-hour 
we  shall  be  at  the  frontier  ?  " 

"  So  soon  ?  "  Ughtred  exclaimed. 

"  Listen  !  I  had  a  message  from  our  friends  at  Lim- 
burg.  The  train  will  be  searched  at  the  barrier.  There 
will  be  a  determined  attempt  to  prevent  your  entering 
the  country.  Theos  is  in  a  state  of  hopeless  confusion. 
The  motion  to  repeal  your  sentence^  of  banishment  is 
still  before  the  House  of  Laws.  The  Custom  officers, 
and  I  am  afraid^  the  Government  officials,  have  been 
heavily  bribed  by  Russia ,,not_  to  pass  you  across  the 
frontier." 

A  bright  light  flashed  in  Ughtred's  eyes. 

"  So  we  shall  see,"  he  muttered. 

"They  have  a  plan  ready  for  us,  no  doubt,"  Reist 
continued,  "  and  that  priest  is  in  it.  Never  mind.  We 
shall  outwit  them.  If  only  your  friend  Brand  is  equal 
to  his  part." 

"  The  man  is  a  born  actor,"  Ughtred  said.  "  I  left 
him  playing  the  Prince  as  I  could  never  have  done 
it.  I  do  not  think  that  Domiloff's  man  will  find  him 
out." 


66  THE  TRAITORS 

Reist  pulled  the  window  softly  down  and  looked  out. 
The  train  was  passing  across  a  high  bridge.  Below,  the 
river  wound  its  way  through  a  stretch  of  rocky,  broken 
country. 

"  We  are  barely  twenty  miles  from  my  home — the 
castle_of ^  Reist  is  to  the  left  of  the  hills  there.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  train  will  stop.  Be  ready  to  follow  me,  and 
do  exactly  as  I  do." 

"  But  we  are  not  timed  to  stop  until  we  reach 
Gajipjia !  " 

"Never  mind,"  Reist  answered.  "This  will  be  a 
stop  that  does  not  appear  upon  the  time-table.  It  is  the 
plan  of  those  who  are  working  for  us  in  Theos,  and  it  is 
good.  At  the  village  station  of  Moschaum  the  signals 
will  be  against  us,  and  we  shall  stop.  Our  task  is  to 
leave  the  train  unseen — it  may  be  difficult,  but  I  have 
bribed  all  the  servants,  and  they  are  preparing  to  see 
nothing.  There  will  be  horses  waiting  for  us — and  then 
— then  it  will  be  a  gallop  for  a  kingdom." 

"  The  plan  seems  good  enough,"  Ughtred  said, 
thoughtfully,  "  and  I  am  in  your  hands.  But  what 
about  Brand  ?  " 

Reist  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  He  is  one  of  those  who  love  adventure,  and  I  do 
not  think  that  he  can  come  to  any  harm.  Let  him  play 
out  his  game.  It  was  his  own  idea  to  personate  you, 
and  the  risk  is  his  own.  Ah  !  " 

There  was  a  sudden  slackening  of  speed.  The  brakes 
were  on  and  the  whistle  sounding.  Reist  strolled  to  the 
platform  of  the  car  as  though  to  look  out,  and  Ughtred 
followed  him.  A  conductor  unfastened  the  gate  and 


THE  TRAITORS  67 

slipped  away.  The  train  had  come  to  a  standstill  in  a 
tiny  station,  a  little  wooden  building  with  a  cupola,  and 
everywhere  surrounded  with  a  dense  forest  of  pines. 
Reist  looked  swiftly  round. 

"  Now,"  he  said.     "  Follow  me." 

They  slipped  from  the  train  on  the  side  remote  from 
the  platform,  and  in  half-a-dozen  strides  had  reached 
the  impenetrable  shelter  of  the  trees.  Then  there  was 
a  whistle.  The  train  crawled  onward  serpent-like  with 
its  flaring  electric  lights  and  the  shower  of  sparks 
which  flew  upwards  from  the  engine.  An  hour  later 
Ughtred,  riding  in  silence  and  at  breakneck  speed 
with  Reist  at  his  elbow  crossed  the  frontier  of  his 
kingdom.  £, 


CHAPTER  X 

"  PRINCE  UGHTRED  of  Tyrnaus." 

Brand  awoke  from  a  hideous  nightmare,  sat  up  on  a 
rude  horsehair  couch,  and  held  his  head  with  both 
hands.  He  was  conscious  of  a  sense  of  nausea,  burning 
temples,  and  a  general  indisposition  to  take  any  interest 
in  his  surroundings.  He  sank  back  upon  his  pillow. 

44  Oh,  rot,"  he  murmured.     "  Go  away,  please." 

There  was  a  short  silence,  then  footsteps,  and  the 
newcomer  bent  over  the  sofa. 

"  Drink  this." 

The  invitation  was  alluring.  Brand's  throat  was  like 
a  limekiln.  He  sat  up  and  took  the  proffered  tumbler 
into  his  hands.  The  liquid  was  cold  and  sparkling — 
almost  magical  in  its  effects.  He  drained  it  to  the  last 
drop,  and  then  looked  curiously  about  him. 

"  Where  the  mischief  am  I  ? "  he  asked ;  "  and  who 
are  you  ? " 

The  newcomer  stood  in  the  light  from  the  window. 
He  was  a  short  and  thick-set  man,  with  iron-grey  hair 
and  black  moustache  slightly  upturned.  He  had  a 
pallid  skin  and  keen  grey  eyes.  His  manner  was  at 
once  grave  and  conciliatory. 

41  Your  memory,  Prince,"  he  remarked,  "  is  scarcely 
so  good  as  mine.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  but  once  before,  yet  I  think  that  I  should  have 
recognized  you  anywhere." 

68 


THE  TRAITORS  69 

"  Oh,  would  you ! "  Brand  remarked,  beneath  his  breath. 

"  I  will  recall  myself  to  your  memory,"  the  other 
continued,  blandly.  "  My  name  is  Domiloff!  " 

"  DomilofF,  of  course,"  Brand  echoed.  "  You  are 
still " 

"  Still  the  representative  of  Russia  to  the  State  of 
Theos.  It  is  true." 

"  And  where  am  I  ?  "  Brand  asked,  looking  around 
the  bare,  lofty  room  with  some  surprise  ;  "  and  what  am 
I  here  for  ?  " 

"  You  are  in  the  House  of  Customs  at  Gallona.  I 
met  the  train  at  the  frontier  to  secure  the  honour  of 
a  little  conversation  with  you  before  you  proceeded  to 
the  capital.  I  found  you  exceedingly  unwell,  and  took 
the  liberty  of  bringing  you  here  that  you  might  have  the 
opportunity  of  resting  a  little  before  completing  your 
journey." 

Brand  rose  slowly  to  his  feet.  He  was  still  giddy, 
but  rapidly  recovering  himself.  His  last  distinct  recol- 
lection was  the  coffee  which  he  and  the  priest  had  ordered 
in  their  coupe.  There  was  a  peculiar  taste — a  swimming 
in  his  head — afterwards  blank  unconsciousness. 

"You  have  been  most  considerate,  I  am  sure,"  he 
said,  slowly.  "  I  am  glad  to  have  your  explanation, 
otherwise  my  presence  here,  under  the  circumstances, 
might  have  suggested  unpleasant  things  to  me." 

DomilofF 's  lips  parted  in  an  inscrutable  smile.  He 
remained  silent. 

u  I  might  have  remembered,"  Brand  continued,  "  that 
I  was  travelling  with  two  friends.  What  has  become 
of  them  ? " 


7o  THE  TRAITORS 

Domiloff  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  It  was  most  unfortunate/'  he  declared.  "  The  train 
pulled  up  for  a  moment  at  a  wayside  station,  and  they 
appear  to  have  descended — and  to  have  been  left 
behind." 

Brand  nodded. 

"  I  might  also  have  remembered,"  he  continued, 
stroking  his  moustache  thoughtfully,  "  a  priest  whose 
interest  in  his  fellow-passengers  was  a  little  extraordi- 
nary— a  cup  of  coffee  pressed  upon  me,  a  queer  taste — 
bah  !  Why  waste  time  ?  I  was  drugged,  sir,  with  your 
connivance,  no  doubt,  and  brought  here.  What  is  the 
meaning  of  it  ?  " 

Domiloff  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  You  assume  too  much,  my  dear  Prince,"  he  declared, 
blandly.  "  Let  us  not  waste  time  by  fruitless  discussion. 
I  will  admit  that  I  was  particularly  anxious  to  have  a 
few  minutes'  quiet  conversation  with  you  before  you 
entered  the  capital.  The  opportunity  is  here.  Let  us 
avail  ourselves  of  it." 

«  Well  ? " 

Domiloff  coughed.  He  had  expected  a  torrent  of 
indignation  and  abuse.  His  guest's  nonchalance  was  a 
little  disquieting. 

"  You  are  entering,"  he  said,  "  upon  a  troublesome 
inheritance." 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  It  is  an  inheritance,"  Domiloff  continued,  "  which 
you  can  neither  possess  yourself  of,  nor  hold,  without 
powerful  friends."  , 

"  Well  ? " 


THE  TRAITORS  71 

"  My  country  is  willing  to  be  your  friend." 

"  Your  country,"  Brand  remarked,  quietly,  "  is  re- 
nowned throughout  the  world  for  her  generosity." 

Domiloff  bowed. 

"  You  do  us,  sir,"  he  said,  "  no  more  than  justice." 

Brand  smiled. 

"  Well !     Go  on  !  " 

"Theos  is  in  a  state  of  hopeless  confusion,"  Domiloff 
remarked.  "  It  is  very  doubtful  whether  the  actual  state 
of  the  country  has  been  represented  to  you.  The  people 
are  all  clamouring  for  they  know  not  what,  law  and 
order  seem  to  be  things  of  the  past.  South  of  the 
Balkans  the  Turks  are  massing;  northwards,  the  mailed 
hand  of  Austria  is  slowly  being  extended." 

"  And  Russia  ?  "  Brand  asked.  "  It  is  not  her  cus- 
tom to  remain  in  the  background." 

"  Russia,"  Domiloff  said,  "  desires  to  be  your  friend. 
She  will  secure  for  you  the  throne,  and  she  will  guarantee 
your^  independence." 

"  At  what  price  ?  " 

Domiloff  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  You  are  very  suspicious,  my  dear  Prince,"  he  said. 
"  My  master  does  not  sell  his  favours.  He  asks  only 
for  a  reasonable  recognition  of  your  gratitude.  I  haj/e 
here  the  copy  of  a  treaty  which  will  secure  you  against 
any  foreign  interference  in  the  affairs  of  your  kingdom. 
Its  advantages  to  you  and  to  Theos  are  so  obvious  that 
it  is  idle  for  me  to  waste  time  by  enlarging  upon  them. 
Read  it,  my  Prince." 

"I  shall  be  charmed,"  Brand  exclaimed,  stretching 
out  his  hand  for  it. 


72  THE  TRAITORS 

"You  would  doubtless  prefer,"  Domiloff  said,  "to 
look  it  through  alone.  I  will  return  in  half-an-hour." 

"  You  are  very  thoughtful,"  Brand  answered.  "  By 
the  bye,  you  will  excuse  my  denseness,  but  I  am  not 
quite  clear  as  to  our  exact  relations  at  the  present  mo- 
ment. I  am,  I  presume,  at  Gallona  ?  " 

The  Baron  bowed. 

"  It  is  indisputable  !  " 

"  At  an  hotel  ?  " 

"You  are,"  Domiloff  declared,  "my  honoured 
guest." 

"  Is  it  part  of  jour ,_d]plpmacy_tp  starve  me  ?  "  Brand 
asked,  coolly,  "  or  may  I  have  some  breakfast  ? " 

Domiloff  touched  the  bell. 

"  My  dear  Prince  !  "  he  exclaimed,  deprecatingly. 

A  servant  entered  with  a  tray — cold  meats  and  a  flask 
of  wine.  Outside  the  window  a  sentry  walked  up  and 
down.  Brand  eyed  him  thoughtfully. 

"I  think  that  I  should  like  a  stroll,"  he  remarked. 
"  My  head  is  still  heavy." 

Domiloff  advanced,  and  laid  his  hand  upon  his 
shoulder. 

"My  dear  Prince,"  he  said,  "I  beg  that  for  the 
present  you  will  not  think  of  it.  It  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  your  presence  upon  the  soil  of  Theos 
should  not  be  suspected.  I  have  a  special  train  waiting 
to  take  you  to  the  capital.  Until  we  start  it  will  be  far 
better,  believe  me,  that  you  do  not  attempt  to  leave  this 
room." 

"  At  what  hour  do  we  start  ?  "  Brand  asked. 

Domiloff  hesitated. 


THE  TRAITORS  73 

"  It  depends,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  upon  circumstances." 

Brand  sat  down  and  poured  himself  out  a  glass  of 
wine. 

"That  means  when  I  have  signed  the  treaty,  I 
suppose  ?  " 

Domiloff  was  already  at  the  door.  He  affected  not 
to  hear. 

"  If  your  Highness  will  ring  when  you  are  prepared 
to  give  me  an  audience,"  he  said,  "  I  shall  be  entirely  at 
your  service." 


Brand  ate  and  drank,  threw  himself  into  an  easy-chair, 
and  lit  a  cigarette.  Presently  he  tried  the  handle  of  the 
door.  It  was  locked.  He  moved  to  the  window  and 
looked  out.  Below  was  an  old  courtyard  enclosed  within 
high  grey  walls  and  iron  gates,  through  which  he  could 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  town.  The  wide,  open  space, 
half  square,  half  market-place,  was  crowded  with  people 
in  strange  costume,  having  baskets  of  fruit  and  vegeta- 
bles, before  which  they  squatted  and  called  out  their 
wares.  Beyond  were  houses  with  vivid,  whitewashed 
fronts,  red  roofs,  and  narrow  windows.  At  the  gates 
were  stationed  two  soldiers  in  red  tunics  and  broad 
white  trousers,  very  baggy,  and  tucked  into  their  boots. 
They  were  bareheaded,  and  they  smoked  long  cigarettes, 
chattering  meanwhile  to  one  another  and  the  people 
around  in  a  dialect  which  to  Brand  was  like  a  nightmare. 
He  watched  them  for  a  while,  and  laughed  softly  to 
himself.  This  was  an  adventure  after  his  own  heart. 

He  looked  at  his  watch.     It  was  three  o'clock.. 


74  THE  TRAITORS 

"  SQL  Reist  and  the  Prince  were  left  behind,"  he 
murmured.  "  It  was  very  well  arranged.  By  now  they 
should  be  on  their  way  to  the  capital.  I  must  make  this 
last  out  as  long  as  possible.  What  a  coup  !  " 

He  lit  another  cigarette,  and  turned  the  treaty  over  in 
his  hands.  Here  he  met  with  a  disappointment.  There 
were  two  copies,  one  in  Russian,  the  other  in  the  The- 
tian  language.  He  could  not  read  either.  After  a  few 
moments'  deliberation  he  rang  the  bell. 

DomilofF  hurried  in,  expectantly. 

u  You  are  ready  for  me  ?  "  he  asked.  "  You  have 
read  our  proposals  ?  You  will  perhaps  now  be  disposed 
to  admit  the  generosity  of  my  master  ?  " 

Brand  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  As  yet,"  he  said,  coolly,  "  I  am  in  a  position  to 
admit  nothing.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  cannot  read  this 
document.  I  cannot  read  Russian,  and  I  have  forgotten 
nearly  all  Thetian.  You  must  have  a  copy  made  for 
me  quickly  either  in  French  or  English." 

DomilofF  started.  A  momentary  shade  of  suspicion 
darkened  his  forehead. 

"  Forgotten  your  Thetian,  Prince  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  Your  native  tongue  !  " 

"  You  forget  that  I  have  been  an  exile  from  Theos 
ever  since  I  was  a  child,"  Brand  answered.  "  I  can 
understand  a  word  or  so  here  and  there,  but  that  is  not 
sufficient.  It  is  necessary  that  I  should  have  an  exact 
and  precise  comprehension  of  your  proposals." 

DomilofF  took  up  the  document. 

"  I  will  make  a  copy  myself,"  he  said.  "  It  will  not 
take  long.  I  hope  that  you  will  soon  find  your  recol- 


THE  TRAITORS  75 

lection  of  the  language  revive,  Prince.  You  will  find 
the  people  sensitive  about  it." 

Domiloff  seated  himself  at  the  table,  and  for  some 
time  there  was  silence  in  the  room  except  for  the  scratch- 
ing of  his  pen.  Brand  lounged  in  the  easy-chair — 
amused  himself  by  speculating  as  to  the  end  of  his  ad- 
venture. Presently  there  was  a  sharp  tap  at  the  door. 
A  messenger  entered,  and  conversed  for  awhile  with 
Domiloff  in  Russian.  He  was  dismissed  with  a  few 
rapid  orders.  Domiloff  turned  round  in  his  chair  and 
faced  Brand. 

"  Prince  Ughtred,"  he  said,  "  I  have  disturbing  news 
from  the  capital.  The  disorder  in  the  city  is  so  great 
that  the  Powers  must  intervene  at  once  unless  some 
decisive  step  be  taken.  I  have  finished  my  translation. 
Sign  it  and  you  shall  enter  into  your  kingdom  before 
sunset." 

Brand  smiled. 

"  I  will  give  you  my  answer,"  he  said,  "  in  ten  min- 
utes." 

Domiloff  bowed. 

"  I  shall  await  your  decision,  Prince,"  he  said.  "  Only 
remember  this.  To-night  there  must  be  a  King  of 
Theos  or  a  Protectorate." 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  ten  minutes  became  half-an-hour.  Domiloff  at 
last  lost  patience  and  knocked  at  the  door.  Brand,  who 
had  just  finished  a  shorthand  copy  of  the  treaty,  and  had 
tucked  it  within  the  inner  sole  of  his  boot,  realized  the 
fact  that  he  had  reached  the  end  of  his  tether. 

"  Come  in,"  he  called  out  cheerfully. 

Domiloff  entered  and  closed  the  door  behind  him. 

u  I  cannot  understand  your  Highness's  indecision," 
he  said,  impatiently.  "  The  document  which  I  have 
had  the  honour  to  submit  for  your  approval  is  one  of  the 
most  simple  and  straightforward  which  was  ever  written. 
And  while  you  hesitate,  Prince,  your  kingdom  passes 
away.  Every  moment  affairs  in  the  capital  draw  nearer 
to  a  crisis." 

Brand  leaned  back  in  his  chair.  He  looked  no  longer 
at  the  manuscript.  It  was  evident  that  his  decision  was 
taken. 

'lit  seems  to  me,"  he  said,  quietly,  "that  my  kingdom 
passes  away  none  the  less  surely  when  I  sign  this  paper. 
Your  terms,  Baron  DomilofF,  amount  to  a  Russian  Pro- 
tectorate. Our  trade  is  to  be  yours,  and  yours  only. 
Russian  is  to  be  taught  in  our  schools,  and  Russians  are 
to  control  our  army  and  our  customs.  What  will  Theos 
gain  in  return  for  this  ?  " 

"  Her  independence  will  be  guaranteed.  Russia  will 
be  her  faithful  friend  !  " 

76. 


THE  TRAITORS  77 

"  Her  independence  !  "  Brand  smiled.  "  Her  inde- 
pendence will  be  rather  a  tattered  garment." 

Domiloff  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Prince,"  he  said,  "  you  scarcely  yet  know  the  nature 
of  your  inheritance.  Theos  is  a  small,  weak  State, 
hemmed  in  with  powerful  nations.  One  of  the  Powers 
must  needs  to  be  her  protector.  Russia,  ever  generous, 
offers  herself.  Without  her  aid  you  could  not  hold  your 
kingdom  for  an  hour." 

Brand  sighed. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  supposing  I  agree — will 
you  tell  me  this  ?  How  can  I  sign  a  treaty  before  I  am 
King  ?  " 

Domiloff  touched  the  paper  with  his  forefinger. 

"  That  has  been  provided  for,"  he  said.  "  What  you 
will  sign  is  a  promise  to  ratify  the  treaty  on  your  acces- 
sion to  the  throne." 

Brand  shook  his  head. 

"  As  a  private  individual,"  he  said,  "  my  signature  is 
worth  nothing.  Further,  I  decline  to  sign  a  paper  which 
might  at  any  future  time  be  brought  up  against  me,  and 
cost  me  the  respect  and  allegiance  of  my  people." 

Domiloff  looked  anxious.  A  moment  ago  the  affair 
had  seemed  settled. 

"  What  do  you  propose,  then  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  will  swear  upon  my  honour,"  Brand  said,  "  and 
before  witnesses  if  you  desire  it,  that  I  will  sign  the 
treaty  whenever  you  require  it  after  my  accession  to  the 
throne." 

Domiloff  hesitated,  made  up  his  mind  to  yield,  and 
yielded  gracefully. 


78  THE  TRAITORS 

"  It  is  sufficient,"  he  declared.  "  The  honour  of  the 
House  of  Tyrnaus  has  never  been  questioned.  But 
there  is  one  more  promise  which  I  must  ask  you  to  add. 
The  Governor  of  the  Customs,  in  whose  house  we  now 
are,  has  acted  as  a  patriot  and  a  wise  man  in  conjunction 
with  me." 

"  I  understand,"  Brand  said,  with  a  quiet  smile.  "  He 
shall  be  held  harmless,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned." 

Domiloff  vanished  for  a  moment,  and  reappeared 
followed  by  a  soldierly-looking  young  man  in  dark  blue 
uniform  of  decidedly  Russian  appearance,  and  an  olive- 
skinned,  black-bearded  civilian,  with  shifty  eyes  and 
nervous  manner.  They  both  bowed  low  before  Brand, 
who  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height  and  eyed  them 
scornfully. 

"  These  are  your  witnesses,  Baron  ?  "  he  asked 
Domiloff. 

Domiloff  assented. 

"  Captain  Barka,"  he  said,  "  who  is  in  command  of 
the  barracks  here,  is  one  of  the  most  gallant  and  faithful 
officers  in  the  army  of  Theos.  Mr.  Omardine  is  Gov- 
ernor of  the  Customs,  and  a  civic  magistrate." 

Brand  regarded  them  coldly. 

"  You  are  here,"  he  said,  "  to  listen  to  these  words  of 
mine.  On  the  sacred  honour  of  the  House  of  Tyrnaus, 
and  before  the  God  of  Theos,  I  swear  that  whenever  I 
may  be  asked  after  my  accession  to  the  throne  of  this 
country,  I  will  sign  the  treaty  which  I  hold  now  in  my 
right  hand.  And  further,  I  swear  not  to  divest  of  his 
office  or  punish  in  any  way  for  their  treachery,  Captain 
Barka  or  Mr.  Omardine,  your  two  witnesses." 


THE  TRAITORS  79 

The  two  men  started.  Omardine  turned  pale  and 
glanced  at  Domiloff  with  furtive  eyes.  Barka  laid  his 
hand  for  a  moment  upon  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  and  the 
deep  colour  dyed  his  cheeks.  DomilofF  stepped  hastily 
forward. 

"  It  is  sufficient,  your  Highness,"  he  said ;  "  but  I 
must  protest  against  the  word  '  treachery '  being  used  as 
applying  to  either  of  these  gentlemen.  They  have 
simply  studied  the  best  interests  of  their  country  in 
recognizing  that  her  destiny  is  identical  with  that  of 
Russia." 

Brand  turned  his  back  upon  them. 

"  So  far  as  their  safety  is  concerned,"  he  said,  "  I 
have  passed  my  word.  My  opinions  are  my  own. 
Will  you  tell  me,  Baron,  at  what  time  you  propose  to 
release  me  ? " 

"  If  your  Highness  will  accept  my  escort,"  DomilofF 
said,  "  I  propose  to  leave  for  the  capital  at  once." 

"  The  sooner  the  better,"  Brand  declared. 

"  Then  there  remains  only  for  your  Highness  to  put 
on  the  uniform  which  I  have  sent  for,"  DomilofF  re- 
marked, touching  the  bell. 

"  What  uniform  ?  "  asked  Brand,  quickly. 

"  The  uniform  of  a  Colonel  in  the  Guards  of  Theos," 
DomilofF  answered.  "  Here  it  is." 

A  servant  entered,  carrying  a  suit  of  gorgeous  light 
blue  and  white  uniform.  Barka  and  Omardine  respect- 
fully withdrew. 

"  I  see  no  need  at  all  for  me  to  wear  these  things," 
Brand  exclaimed,  glancing  in  bewilderment  at  the  many 
trappings  and  strange  fastenings.  "  I  will  go  as  I  am. 


8o  THE  TRAITORS 

There  will  be  plenty  of  time  afterwards  for  this  sort  of 
thing." 

"It  is  impossible,"  Domiloff  interrupted.  "Your 
Highness  seems  to  forget  that  your  throne  has  yet  to  be 
won.  The  people  have  had  enough  of  civilians.  You 
must  appear  before  them  as  a  soldier,  and  they  will  shout 
you  King  till  their  throats  are  hoarse  and  the  water 
stands  in  their  eyes.  They  are  a  dramatic  people,  lovers 
of  effect.  They  must  be  taken  by  storm.  I  cannot 
offer  your  Highness  a  valet,  but  perhaps  I  can  be  of  as- 
sistance." 

Brand  yielded,  but  not  without  secret  misgivings. 
With  his  clothes  a  certain  part  of  his  easy  confidence 
departed.  His  share  in  the  game  was  no  longer  to  be  a 
purely  passive  one.  With  the  donning  of  this  uniform 
to  which  he  had  no  manner  of  claim  he  entered  the  lists 
of  intrigues  boldly,  as  an  impostor  and  masquerader. 
Under  certain  circumstances  the  way  out  might  be  diffi- 
cult. 

Domiloff  watched  him  make  his  toilet  with  a  certain 
curiosity.  It  was  odd  that  a  military  man  should  be  so 
much  embarrassed  by  buckles  and  straps,  yet  when  all 
was  completed  he  was  bound  to  admit  that  the  result  was 
satisfactory  enough.  Brand  was  a  good-looking  fellow, 
and  he  looked  the  part. 

"Your  Highness  will  be  so  good  now  as  to  follow 
me,"  Domiloff  directed.  "  A  carriage  is  waiting  to  take 
us  to  the  station." 

A  guard  of  honour  surrounded  the  open  landau, 
whose  military  salute  Brand  gravely  returned.  The 
news  of  his  arrival  had  quickly  spread.  The  country 


THE  TRAITORS  81 

people  thronged  around,  shouting  and  cheering.  The 
air  was  rent  with  strange,  barbaric  cries.  Their  short 
drive  to  the  railway  station  was  a  triumphal  progress. 
Brand  alone  was  wholly  uncomfortable.  Surely  amongst 
all  this  press  of  people  there  would  be  some  one  to  whom 
Prince  Ughtred  was  known.  They  reached  the  station, 
however,  without  incident,  and  amidst  ever-increasing 
enthusiasm.  A  handsome  saloon  was  drawn  up  to  the 
carpeted  platform,  and  a  cordon  of  soldiers  kept  the 
station  clear.  In  less  than  five  minutes  they  were  off. 

Brand  unbuckled  his  sword,  and  threw  his  helmet  up 
in  the  rack.  Then  he  made  himself  comfortable  in  an 
easy-chair,  ostensibly  to  sleep,  in  reality  to  think  out  the 
situation. 

"  How  long  will  it  take  us  to  reach  the  capital  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Two  hours,"  Domiloff  answered.  "  Sleep  for  a 
time  if  you  like.  You  may  make  yourself  quite  easy. 
My  arrangements  for  your  reception  are  complete.  You 
will  receive  a  tremendous  ovation.  The  news  of  your 
coming  has  electrified  the  city." 

Brand's  gratification  at  the  prospect  was  certainly  not 
apparent.  However,  he  closed  his  eyes,  and  relapsed 
into  thought.  Two  hours  !  He  reckoned  it  all  out. 
His  knowledge  of  the  geography  of  the  country  was 
slight,  but  it  seemed  to  him  impossible  that  Prince^. 
Ughtred  and  Reist  could  yet  have  reached  the  capital. 
So  far  all  that  he  had  done  had  been  good.  The  diffi- 
culty which  confronted  him  now  was  to  select  the  proper 
moment  for  his  avowal,  and,  having  made  it,  to  escape. 
He  foresaw  difficulties.  Domiloff  was  not  a  man  to  be 


82  THE  TRAITORS 

made  a  fool  of  lightly.  His  one  comforting  reflection 
was  that  when  the  explosion  did  come  he  would  be  safer 
in  Theos  than  in  a  frontier  town  which  was  obviously 
under  Russian  influence. 

Slowly  the  train  wound  its  way  across  a  rocky  and 
difficult  country,  a  country  of  mountains,  woods,  and 
rivers,  valleys  rich  with  corn-tracts,  tiny  villages  whose 
gleaming  white  homesteads  made  picturesque  many  a 
hillside.  Brand  sat  quite  still  with  half-closed  eyes. 
Presently  the  door  of  the  saloon  opened,  and  closed 
again  softly.  Domiloff  looked  in  and  withdrew.  Then 
there  came  the  sound  of  voices  from  the  next  compart- 
ment. Listening  intently,  Bland  caught  a  word  or  two 
here  and  there. 

"  Absolutely  impossible.  ...  I  saw  him  in 
Paris  after  the  Algerian  campaign  .  .  .  thinner, 
that  is  all.  .  .  .  Reist  and  the  English  journalist 
were  simply  left  .  .  .  plante  la.  HernofF  planned 
everything." 

"  Mistakes.  .  .  .  He  does  not  make  mistakes. 
If  I  believed  it  I  would  shoot  him  like  a  dog.  You 
have  your  revolver,  too.  Good !  Oh,  yes,  he  will 
sign  !  It  will  be  a  record  reign.  It  may  last  a  month. 
They  will  see  that  he  is  under  the  thumb  of  Russia. 
No,  he  is  fast  asleep.  After  HernofF 's  medicine  one  is 
sleepy  for  days." 

The  voices  died  away.  They  passed  through  a  little 
wayside  station  gay  with  flags,  and  the  train  began  to 
descend  a  series  of  gradients.  Below  was  a  great 
fruitful  plain,  bounded  southwards  by  a  range  of  tower- 
ing mountains.  Far  away  westwards  was  a  huge  ascent 


THE  TRAITORS  83 

to  a  wide-spreading  table-land.  Brand  sat  with  his  eyes 
fixed  steadily  upon  it,  and  a  queer  little  smile  upon  his 
lips.  He  was  sufficiently  aware  of  his  surroundings  to 
know  that  there  was  the  fortress  capital  of  Theos. 

He  heard  footsteps,  and  closed  his  eyes  again.  Domi- 
loff  entered  the  saloon,  and  shook  him  by  the  arm.  He 
awoke  with  a  drowsy  murmur. 

"  Wake  up,  your  Highness !  We  are  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  capital." 

Brand  sat  up. 

"  All  right,"  he  said.  "  I  am  ready.  But  how  my 
head  aches." 

Domiloff  smiled  grimly,  and  thrust  a  sheet  of  paper 
into  his  hand. 

"  It  will  pass  off,"  he  said.     "  See,  this,i§  your  speech^ 
Learn   it.     It  will  not  be  wise  for  you  to  address  the 
people  in  any  save  their  own  language." 

Brand  took  the  sheet  of  unintelligible  characters  into 
his  own  hand.  He  lQakedJ?Jankly atjt. 

"  Read  it  to  me,"  he  said.  "  Let  me  hear  how  it 
sounds." 

Domiloff  declaimed  and  translated  it.  Brand  listened 
thoughtfully.  Apparently  the  return  of  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  to  the  throne  of  his  forefathers  was  solely 
owing  to  a  benevolent  desire  on  the  part  of  Russia  to 
bring  to  Theos  an  era  of  unparalleled  peace  and  pros- 
perity. Far  away  a  gleam  of  white  and  grey  towers 
flashed  upon  the  hillside.  Villages  became  more  plenti- 
ful. '  They  were  nearing  the  capital.  | 


CHAPTER  XII 

ONCE  more  the  men  and  women  of  Theos  thronged 
the  streets  of  their  time-worn  capital.  A  thousand 
torches  flared  in  the  open  space  before  the  palace. 
Lanterns  and  flags  waved  from  all  the  principal  houses 
and  public  buildings.  Only  the  great  Reist  mansion 
was  silent  and  gloomy,  and  many  questioning  eyes  were 
turned  towards  it. 

"  It  was  the  Duke  himself  who  has  brought  Ughtred 
of  Tyrnaus  here,"  muttered  one.  "Yet  his  house  is 
dark  and  empty,  and  no  man  has  seen  him." 

"  There  is  something  strange  about  it,"  said  another, 
"  and  I  like  not  the  wolf  DomilofF  at  the  shoulder  of  a. 
Tyrnaus." 

"  Please  God,  the  son  may  not  be  like  the  father !  " 

"  Let  us  see  him,"  cried  another.    "  Come — shout !  " 

So  the  air  shook  with  the  roar  of  voices,  and  servants 
in  the  blue  Tyrnaus  livery  came  out  upon  the  balcony 
of  the  brilliantly-lit  palace  and  spread  a  carpet.  But 
the  man  whom  they  longed  to  see  lingered. 

DomilofF  argued  with  him  in  vain.  He  was  unac- 
countably obstinate. 

"  It_is  the  Duke  of  Reist  who  should  stand  by  my 
side  when  first  I  speak  to  my  people,"  he  declared,  coolly. 
"  It  is  he  who  brought  me  from  England,  not  you.  He 
must  be  my  sponsor.  If  he  is  not  here  I  will  wait." 

DomilofF  was  naturally  furious.  He  had  been  at  con- 
84 


THE  TRAITORS  85 

siderable  pains  to  insure  the  absence  of  Reist  from  the 
capital  on  this  occasion,  and  his  inopportune  return 
would  amount  to  a  disaster.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
populace  were  fast  working  themselves  up  into  a  state 
of  frenzy.  Let  this  man  show  himself,  and  the  success 
of  his  coup  was  assured.  It  was  unpardonable  hesita- 
tion. He  trembled  with  rage.  In  the  King's  palace,  in 
his  own  chamber,  he  had  lost  for  the  moment  his  hold 
upon  this  man.  It  was  the  one  weak  spot  in  his  care- 
fully thought-out  scheme.  It  was  the  one  contingency 
against  which  he  was  comparatively  helpless. 

"  You  are  losing  a  golden  opportunity,  Prince,"  he 
declared.  "  Your  hesitation  is  a  crime.  The  people  are 
on  fire  to  see  you.  They  will  shout  you  King  with  one 
voice.  Give  to  Reist  all  the  glory  if  you  will,  but,  if 
you  would  win  your  kingdom,  out  on  to  the  balcony  and 
show  yourself.  Hear  them  !  " 

The  roar  of  voices  sounded  like  thunder  from  the 
street  below.  Brand  smoked  on  stolidly. 

"  I  shall  wait  one  hour  for  the  Duke  of  Reist,"  he 
decided.  "At  the  end  of  that  time,  if  he  has  not 
arrived,  I  will  reconsider  the  matter." 

Domiloff,  who  did  not  expect  the  Duke  of  Reist  in  an 
hour,  was  forced  to  acquiesce. 

"  I  will  send  messengers  out  amongst  the  people,"  he 
said.  "  I  will  let  them  know  that  you  are  worn  out 
with  travelling,  but  that  in  an  hour  you  will  address 
them.  Shall  it  be  so  ?  " 

"'You  can  do  as  you  like,"  Brand  answered,  quietly. 
"  I  make  no  promises." 

Domiloff  withdrew,  furious.     Brand  was  left  alone. 


86  THE  TRAITORS 

He  was  a  journalist  of  the  modern  type,  and  he  had 
been  in  a  good  many  tight  corners.  His  nerves  were  of 
iron,  his  courage  indomitable,  and  his  sense  of  humour 
prodigious.  But  this  was  getting  beyond  a  joke.  He 
was  in  a  cul-de-sac.  Escape  was  scarcely  to  be  hopje.d 
for,  disclosure  would  certainly  cost  him  his  life.  Never- 
theless, as  the  roar  of  voices  mounted  again  to  his  ears 
the  corners  of  his  mouth  twitched  and  his  eyes  shone 
with  laughter.  He  found  himself  longing  for  pen  and 
paper,  wondering  how  much  of  this  he  dare  use  as  copy. 
Then  the  clock  struck.  He  became  instantly  grave. 
After  all,  an  hour  was  a  short  time.  He  concentrated 
his  thoughts  once  more  upon  the  situation. 

On  one  point  he  was  resolved.  He  would  not  carry 
his  personation  any  further.  He  would  not  present 
himself  to  the  people  of  Theos  as  an  impostor,  with 
JDomiloff  for  his  introducer,  and  unable  to  frame  a  single 
sentence  in  the  language  of  his  supposed  forefathers. 
The  speech  which  Domiloff  had  written  out  for  him 
was,  of  course,  an  impossibility.  Some  time  to-night 
the  Prince  and  Reist  must  surely  arrive,  and  the  situation 
then  might  become  possible.  Failing  that,  he  could  see 
nothing  but  chaos. 

Half-an-hour  had  passed,  but  he  was  not  greatly  dis- 
turbed. He  had  a  touch  of  that  beautiful  faith  which  is 
the  heritage  of  the  born  adventurer.  He  was  content  to 
wait  for  something  to  turn  up.  He  threw  away  the  end 
of  his  cigar  and  walked  slowly  up  and  down  the  great 
vaulted  room.  The  ceiling  was  of  extraordinary  height, 
and  the  wooden  panels  which  covered  the  walls  were 
black  with  age  and  beautifully  carved.  He  paused  be- 


THE  TRAITORS  87 

fore  one  of  them  to  examine  the  design,  and  passed  his 
fingers  lightly  over  the  figure  of  a  priest  who  knelt  by 
the  side  of  a  wounded  man  in  armour.  It  was  a  rugged 
but  wonderful  representation.  Suddenly  he  started  back 
as  though  he  had  been  shot.  The  priest  was  being  split 
down  the  middle  before  his  eyes.  ^ 

He  stood  rigid.  Even  his  nerves  were  scarcely  proof 
against  this  sort  of  thing.  The  head  of  the  wounded 
knight  had  parted  from  his  body,  and  the  legs  of  the 
priest  were  every  moment  drawing  further  apart.  He 
approached  the  panel  gingerly.  It  was  not  fancy. 
There  was  a  long,  thin  crack  from  the  floor  to  the  tapes- 
try border,  which  stood  about  six  feet  high.  Whilst  he 
watched,  it  widened.  He  slipped  his  hand  into  his 
pocket  and  drew  out  his  revolver. 

From  one  inch  to  two — to  half  a  foot,  and  then  wide 
open,  the  panel  slid  back.  Brand  uttered  a  soft  cry  of 
amazement.  A  woman,  dark,  slender,  and  beautiful, 
stood  upon  the  threshold  of  what  seemed  to  be  a  pas- 
sage, herself  almost  as  motionless  as  a  painted  figure. 
Her  eyes  met  his  with  a  challenging  light,  her  pose  was 
imperious.  Diamonds  flashed  from  her  neck  and  bosom, 
and  her  hair  was  coiled  upon  her  head  coronet-like,  after 
the  manner  of  the  women  of  Theos.  Her  black  gown 
was  cut  in  a  manner  unknown  to  western  dressmakers 
— to  Brand  she  seemed  like  a  wonderful  Italian  picture 
of  the  middle  ages  stepped  bodily  from  its  frame.  He 
lowered  his  revolver,  and  took  a  quick  step  backward. 
Then  to  his  surprise,  she  spoke  to  him  in  English,  halt- 
ingly, but  with  perfect  distinctness. 

"  Lock  the  door." 


88  THE  TRAITORS 

The  sound  of  his  native  language  made  a  new  man  of 
Brand.  His  senses  were  no  longer  dazed. 

"  It  is — already  locked,"  he  answered. 

She  took  a  step  forward,  and  before  he  could  divine 
her  purpose  sank  gently  on  one  knee  in  a  wonderful 
courtesy.  He  took  the  slim  white  hand,  and  bowed  low 
over  it. 

"  You  are  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  ?  "  she  said,  eagerly. 
"  Is  it  not  so  ?  " 

He  laughed  quietly. 

"  It  is  the  first  time,"  he  said,  "  that  I  have  been 
asked  the  question.  Personation  seems  to  come  natural 
to  me." 

She  looked  at  him  intently,  and  the  fine,  dark  eye- 
brows were  drawn  a  little  closer  together. 

"  I  am  not  very  quick  at  speaking  English,"  she  said. 
"  You  are  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  am  supposed  to  be,"  he  admitted. 

"  Then  where  is  my  brother  ? "  she  demanded. 
"  Why  is  he  not  with  you  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her,  puzzled. 

"  Forgive  me,"  he  said.  "  I  am  rather  stupid.  What 
is  your  brother's  name,  and  who  are  you  ?  " 

Her  eyes  gleamed  with  suspicion.  Was  it  not  obvious 
who  she  was  ? 

"  T  aurdve  Countess  Marie  of  Reirtf^uhe  said.  "  Will 
you  answer  me  quickly  ?  " 

He  divined  the  likeness  at  once. 

"  And  do  you  live — in  the  wall  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  frowned  imperiously. 

u  If  you  indeed  are  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,"  she  said% 


THE  TRAITORS  89 

"you  should  know  that  the  Reist  house  adjoins  the 
palace,  and  that  this  passage  has  been  in  existence  since 
the  days  of  King  Rudolph.  Tell  me  what  you  have 
done  with  my  brother  Nicholas,  and  how  it  happens 
thaTyou  have  entered  the  city  without  him,  and  in  com- 
pany with  Domiloff  the  wolf." 

He  smiled.  His  optimism  was  justified.  Something 
had  turned  up. 

"  You  must  allow  me  to  make  a  confession,  Count- 
ess," he  said,  easily.  "  I  am  not  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus. 
The  Prince  is  on  his  way  to  the  city  with  your  brother, 
and,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  if  they  do  not  arrive  here  very 
soon  my  position  will  become  extremely  uncomfortable." 

She  withdrew  within  the  shelter  of  the  panel  and  re- 
garded him  haughtily. 

"  You  say  that  you  are  not  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus," 
she  exclaimed.  "  Then  who  are  you  ?  An  impostor ! 
Yes !  You  are  in  the  royal  chamber,  and  even  now  the 
people  call  for  you.  You  are  a  tool  of  DomilofF's. 
Good  !  The  people  shall  know  that  they  are  being 
deceived  !  " 

He  was  only  just  in  time  to  seize  her  by  the  wrist. 
She  wrenched  herself  free  with  a  furious  little  cry,  but 
he  blocked  her  escape. 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  with  perfect  respect,  but  with  a 
gleam  of  laughter  in  his  eyes,  "pray  do  not  desert  me, 
for  I  am  a  friend  of  your  brother's,  and  especially  of 
JPrince  Ughtred's.  I  am  not  masquerading  for  the  fun 
of  the  thing,  I  can  assure  you,  but  solely  to  outwit 
DomilofF.  Permit  me  to  explain,  The  fact  is,  I  need 
rour  heir 


9o  THE  TRAITORS 

She  eyed  him  coldly.  The  touch  of  his  fingers 
seemed  burning  still  upon  her  wrist. 

"  Well  ? " 

"Three  of  us  left  England  together,"  Brand  said. 
"  Your  brother,  Prince  Ughtred,  and  myself — Walter 
Brand,  a  newspaper  writer  and  a  person  of  no  impor- 
tance. I  won't  stop  to  tell  you  how  I  became  one  of 
the  party.  It  isn't  of  any  consequence,  and  time  is.  I 
happen  to  slightly  resemble  Prince  Ughtred,  and  we  got 
scent  of  a  plot  to  stop  our  entrance  into  Theos.  Well, 
Prince  Ughtred  and  I  exchanged  identities.  The  conse- 
quences were  these.  The  Prince  and  your  brother  left 
the  train  secretly  before  we  left  the  frontier,  I  was 
drugged,  and  awoke  to  find  myself  tete-a-tete  with  a 
remarkably  gentlemanly  personage  called  Domiloff." 

Her  eyes  flashed  fire.  She  came  a  little  further  into 
the  room. 

"  Ah  !     Well !  " 

"  He  took  me  for  granted  in  the  kindest  possible  man- 
ner— waived  aside  the  matter  of  my  abduction — affected 
to  consider  me  as  an  afternoon  caller.  He  introduced 
politics  in  a  casual  sort  of  way.  Russia  I  found  was  the 
great  and  generous  friend  of  Theos.  Russia  was  pining 
for  the  friendship  of  Theos." 

She  interrupted  him  with  a  fierce  little  gesture  of 
contempt. 

"  The  hound  !  Russia  is  our  enemy  !  It  was  she 
who  sought  to  buy  our  freedom  from  Metzger,  the  mer- 
chant, for  a  million  pounds." 

He  nodded. 

"  Exactly.     However,  I  had  to  listen  to  him.     In  the 


THE  TRAITORS  91 

end  he  produced  a  treaty — Russian  protection  for  Theos 
in  exchange  for  every  shred  of  independence  she  pos- 
sessed. If  I  would  swear  before  witnesses  to  sign  it 
when  I  became  King,  I  might  proceed,  and  Domiloff 
himself  would  be  my  escort.  If  I  refused — well,  I  think 
then  that  other  things  were  in  store  for  me.  After  a 
becoming  show  of  hesitation  I  promised  to  sign — when 
I  was  King.  Then  Domiloff  hustled  me  along  here.  I 
have  delayed  things  as  long  as  possible,  but  it's  getting  a 
little  uncomfortable.  Domiloff  can't  understand  why  I 
won't  go  and  speak  to  the  people.  .If  I  declare  myself, 
he  will  shoot  me  on  sight.  What  I  have  been  praying 
for  is  a  chance  to  escape,  or  that  your  brother  and  the 
Prince  might  turn  up." 

She  regarded  him  with  unfeigned  admiration. 

"  I  did  you  an  injustice,"  she  said.  "  I  see  that  you 
are  a  very  brave  man,  and  we  in  Theos  love  brave  men." 

He  bowed  before  her  so  gallantly  and  looked  into  her 
eyes  so  closely  that  a  wave  of  colour  flushed  in  her 
cheeks.  A  distant  sound  in  the  Palace,  however,  brought 
them  to  a  swift  sense  of  the  danger  which  threatened 
him. 

"  You  see,"  he  explained,  "  I  was  bound  to  keep  it  up 
as  long  as  I  could,  or  Domiloff  would  have  tried  to 
prevent  your  brother  and  the  Prince  from  reaching  the 
capital.  Besides,  since  I  have  read  the  proposed  treaty 
they  would  never  allow  me  to  escape  alive." 

She  nodded  slowly. 

"  Yes,  that  is  so.  It  would  not  be  well  that  you  speak 
first  to  the  people  with  Domiloff  at  your  elbow,  but  jfjt 
comes  to  a  matter  of  life  or  death  you  must  do_it.  I 


92  THE  TRAITORS 

will  send  servants  and  horses  to  hasten  my  brother's, 
comingj  and  you  must  continue  the  personation." 

"  There  is  an  objection,"  he  replied,  quickly.  u  I  do 
not  know  a  single  word  of  your  language,  and  to  speak 
for  the  first  time  to  the  people  in  any  other  would  do  the 
Prince  a  great  injury  with  them." 

She  reflected  for  a  moment.  Then  her  face  lit  up. 
She  pointed  down  the  passage. 

"  I  think,"  she  said,  "  that  it  would  be  a  very  good 
time  for  Prince  Ughtred  to  disappear.  You  shall  come 
with  me." 

Brand  hesitated. 

"  But,  Countess,"  he  protested,  "  they  will  search 
your  house.  You  will  be  accused  of  harbouring  an  im- 
postor." 

She  dismissed  the  idea  with  a  gesture  of  superb 
contempt. 

"  The  Reist  House,"  she  assured  him,  "  is  secure 
against  DomiloflF  or  any  of  his  creatures.  I  offer  you  its 
shelter,  sir.  I  beg  you  to  come  with  me." 

Still  he  hesitated.  A  fresh  murmur  arose  from  the 
swelling  crowd  without — footsteps  were  heard  in  the 
corridor — the  hour  struck.  She  laid  her  fingers  upon  his 
arm,  and  looked  upward  into  his  face. 

"Sir,"  she  said,  softly,  "I  beg  that  you  will  come 
with  me." 

Brand  felt  his  heart  beating  with  more  than  the  mere 
excitement  of  the  moment.  He  yielded.  She  pressed 
a  spring  with  her  finger,  and  the  panel  rolled  slowly  back 
into  its  place. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

UP  the  steep  ascent  to  the  capital  two  men  galloped 
their  tired  horses  in  stern  silence.  For  twelve  hours 
they  had  ridden  with  scant  waste  of  breath  in  speech. 
Only  at  each  change,  and  seven  times  since  break  of 
day,  had  they  changed  horses.  Prince  Ughtred  had  lit 
a  fresh  cigar  and  asked  the  same  question  and  met  with 
the  same  reply. 

"  How  goes  it,  Nicholas  ?  " 

"  We  keep  up  with  the  time.      Forward  !  " 

As  they  neared  the  capital  they  rode  through  a 
stream  of  people  wending  their  way  citywards.  Reist 
drew  rein. 

"  Whither  away,  friends  ?  " 

"  To  the  capital,  sir.  Prince  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus, 
our  future  King,  is  there.  We  go  to  greet  him." 

The  two  men  exchanged  quick  glances  as  they 
rode  on. 

"  I  do  not  understand  it,"  Reist  admitted.  "  Our 
coming  is  unannounced.  A  certain  amount  of  secrecy 
was  necessary.  Something  strange  seems  to  have 
happened." 

By  degrees  their  progress  along  the  narrow  road  grew 
more  and  more  difficult.  The  country  folk  thronged 
the  thoroughfare,  gay  in  picturesque  holiday  attire,  many 
of  them  singing  a  strange  national  air  which  stirred  in 
Ughtred's  heart  some  faint  echo  of  far-away  recollec- 

93 


94  THE  TRAITORS 

tions.  He  watched  them  eagerly,  and  his  heart  swelled 
with  pride.  A  fine,  stalwart  race,  with  the  free  swing- 
ing walk  of  mountaineers,  bright-eyed,  clear-skinned, 
with  cheeks  as  brown  as  berries.  His  dormant  patriot- 
ism, already  awakened  by  his  long  ride  through  the 
beautiful,  dimly-familiar  country,  beat  in  his  heart.  He 
would  rule  these  people  as  his  children,  and  though  he 
died  sword  in  hand  the  yoke  of  the  conqueror  should 
never  bow  their  shoulders.  It  was  a  great  task — a  great 
heritage. 

A  train,  brilliant  with  lights,  glided  serpent-like  over 
the  high  viaduct  to  their  left.  A  murmur  arose  from 
amongst  the  people. 

"  The  Prince,"  they  cried.     "  The  Prince." 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "   Ughtred  asked. 

"  God  only  knows,"  Reist  answered,  bewildered. 

At  the  station  a  cordon  of  soldiers  blocked  the  way. 
The  two  men  spurred  on  into  the  front  ranks.  Amongst 
a  thunder  of  acclamation  they  saw  Domiloff  and  Brand 
in  his  brilliant  uniform  take  their  places  in  the  waiting 
carriage.  They  were  speechless. 

"To  the  palace,"  Reist  cried  at  last.  "Come, 
Ughtred ;  there's  some  damned  underhand  plotting 
going  on." 

"  It  was  Brand  !  "  Ughtred  exclaimed.  "  Brand  in 
the  uniform  of  the  Theos  Guards.  Is  the  man  mad  ?  " 

"I  do  not  think  that  it  was  Brand  at  all,"  Reist 
answered,  fiercely.  "It  is  a  plot  of  that  accursed 
Russian.  Way,  good  people,  way  !  " 

But  the  people,  good-natured  though  they  were,  were 
wedged  too  thickly  to  let  them  pass.  At  last  in  a  rush 


THE  TRAITORS  95 

they  were  almost  unhorsed.     A  direct  progress  to  the 
palace  was  impossible.     Reist  turned  up  a  side  street. 

"  We  will  go  to  my  house,"  he  said.  "  It  will  take 
us  some  time  this  way,  but  we  shall  never  succeed  in 
reaching  the  palace." 

****** 

The  panel  slid  back  behind  them,  and  closed  with  a 
spring.  From  some  place  upon  the  wall  invisible  to 
him  the  Countess  took  a  small  silver  lamp,  and  carefully 
lit  it.  Then  holding  it  high  over  her  head  she  turned 
towards  Brand. 

"  You  must  follow  me  closely,"  she  said.  "  The  way 
is  narrow,  and  there  are  steps.  Listen  !  " 

They  both  stood  for  a  moment  with  bated  breath. 
In  the  room  behind  was  tumult.  There  were  angry 
voices,  the  ringing  of  bells,  bewildered  exclamations. 

"  It  is  my  friend,  Domiloff,"  Brand  whispered.  "  I 
am  afraid  that  he  has  lost  his  temper.  I  might  at  least 
have  left  a  note." 

She  motioned  him  to  follow  her. 

"  You  are  quite  safe,"  she  declared.  "  The  secret 
passage  has  not  been  used  for  many  years.  It  is 
unknown  to  any  within  the  palace.  I  do  not  know" 
what  made  me  think  of  it  to-night." 

"  It  was,"  Brand  remarked,  "  a  remarkable  piece  of 
good  fortune  for  me.  I  do  not  fancy  that  our  friend 
Domiloff  in  a  passion  would  be  at  all  a  pleasant 
companion." 

Her  face  hardened. 

"  DomilofF,"  she  said,  "  is  a  traitor  and  a  ruffian. 
When  I  saw  you  alone  with  him  and  without  Nicholas 


96  THE  TRAITORS 

I  knew  that  something  must  have  happened.  My 
brother  would  never  have  suffered  him  to  have  stood 
by  your  side  to-nighti  This  way." 

They  stepped  into  a  large  dimly-lit  room,  with  high 
panelled  walls  and  a  vaulted  roof.  The  door  rolled 
back  behind  them.  The  girl  passed  her  hands  along 
the  wall  till  even  the  crack  was  invisible.  Then  she 
moved  to  the  table  and  struck  a  gong. 

"  You  must  need  wine,"  she  said.     "  Basil !  " 

A  grey-haired  old  servant  entered  the  room,  and  at 
the  sight  of  Brand  would  have  fallen  upon  one  knee, 
but  the  girl  stopped  him. 

"  Basil,  this  is  not  Prince  Ughtred,"  she  said,  "  but  a 
friend  of  his  and  ours  who  has  been  taking  the  Prince's 
place  in  order  that  Domiloff  might  be  deceived.  Bring 
us  some  wine." 

Brand  drank  from  the  long  Venetian  glass,  and  after- 
wards sank  gratefully  into  the  high-backed  chair  to 
which  she  motioned  him.  At  her  request  he  told  her 
everything  which  had  happened  since  the  coming  of 
Reist  to  London.  And  from  below  there  came  to  them 
often  the  murmur  of  the  waiting  crowds. 

She  was  superbly  devoid  of  nerves.  She  had  no  man- 
ner of  apprehension. 

"  They  will  come,"  she  said,  "  and  the  people  will 
wait.  Tell  me  some  more  of  your  wonderful  London." 

"  You  have  never  been  there  ?  "  he  exclaimed  in  as- 
tonishment. 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  No,  nor  in  Paris  even.  No  further  west  than 
Vienna." 


THE  TRAITORS  97 

u  It  is  incredible,"  he  murmured. 

"  And  why  incredible  ?  "  she  asked  him,  with  deli- 
cately upraised  eyebrows.  "  I  do  not  understand. 
Theos  is  my  home — those  places  are  nothing  to  me. 
Whilst  I  was  in  Vienna  I  was  miserable.  All  was  hurry 
and  bustle.  There  was  so  little  dignity,  so  little  repose. 
I  do  not  think  that  people  who  live  in  such  places  can 
understand  what  it  is  to  love  one's  homeland.  Every- 
where, too,  even  amongst  the  aristocracy,  one  met  vulgar 
people.  Shopkeepers  and  merchants  who  had  made  very 
much  money  mixed  freely  with  the  nobles.  They  tell 
me  that  in  England  it  is  also  like  this.  In  Theos  I 
think  that  we  are  wiser." 

She  spoke  simply — as  one  who  points  out  a  grievous 
impropriety.  Brand  smiled. 

"  I  have  heard  your  country  spoken  of  as  one  of  the 
most  aristocratic  in  the  world,"  he  remarked.  "  I  think 
that  it  must  be  true." 

"  From  what  I  have  seen,"  she  answered,  "  it  may  be 
so.  There  are  very  little  of  the  old  nobility  left  in 
Theos,  but  we  are  content  to  let  them  die  out  rather 
than  to  raise  to  their  ranks  those  who  have  enriched  them- 
selves with  commerce.  We  believe  that  our  way  is  best." 

"  And  you  yourself  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Tell  me  how  you 
occupy  yourself.  You  have  friends — amusements  ?  " 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders  ever  so  slightly. 

"  My  brother  has  large  estates,"  she  said,  "  and  with 
them  come  many  duties.  I  see  that  our  peasant  women 
are  properly  brought  up,  and  that  they  retain  their  skill 
in  lace  work.  Then  there  is  music,  and  when  we  are  at 
Castle  Reist  we  hunt.  It  is  true  that  I  have  not  many 


98  THE  TRAITORS 

friends  of  my  own  order,  but  that  is  scarcely  to  be 
expected.  The  care  of  so  many  of  those  who  are  de- 
pendent upon  one  is  a  very  absorbing  duty.  We  give  a 
dowry  to  every  girl  who  marries  suitably  amongst  our 
own  people.  For  many  generations  this  has  been  a 
religion  with  us.  Tell  me,  then,  is  it  not  so  with  the 
maidens  of  your  country  ? — I  speak,  of  course,  of  those 
who  are  of  noble  birth." 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  I  think  not,"  he  answered.  "  You  see,  for  them 
there  are  many  diversions.  They  play  games,  hunt, 
shoot,  and  ride  with  their  brothers  and  their  brothers' 
friends  when  they  are  at  their  estates.  Then  for  half 
the  year  they  live  in  London,  and  every  night  there  are 
dances,  concerts,  theatres,  and  parties  of  all  sorts." 

She  nodded  gravely. 

u  That  is  what  I  have  heard,"  she  said.  "  They  take 
life  so  much  more  lightly  than  we  who  live  in  quieter 
places.  Here  there  is  born  with  us  the  consciousness 
that  our  rank  has  many  obligations.  There  is  not  a 
peasant  girl  on  my  estates  whom  I  do  not  know  by  name. 
It  has  been  so  with  the  women  of  our  house  for  many 
generations." 

There  was  a  short  silence.  Then  she  raised  her  eyes 
to  his. 

"  Your  own  sisters  ?  "  she  asked.  "  Are  they,  too, 
such  as  you  describe  ?  " 

Brand  smiled  faintly. 

"  I  have  only  one  sister,"  he  said,  "  and  she  is  mar- 
ried. But  my  own  people  would  scarcely  count — from 
your  point  of  view." 


THE  TRAITORS  99 

She  looked  at  him,  faintly  puzzled. 

"  You  mean,"  she  asked,  "  that  you  are  not  of  noble 
birth  ?  " 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  By  no  means  !  My  father  was  a  physician,  and  I 
myself  write  for  the  newspapers  !  " 

"  But  you  spoke  of  Prince  Ughtred,"  she  remarked, 
"  as  your  friend." 

He  smiled. 

"  In  England,"  he  explained,  "  all  these  things  are 
regarded  very  differently.  We  are  a  very  democratic 
nation,  and  Prince-  Ughtred,  you  must  remember,  is  half 
^an^  Englishman." 

She  was  silent.  He  had  an  absurd  fancy  that  she  was 
disappointed — that  her  momentary  interest  in  him  was 
gone.  He  was  angry  with  himself  for  the  idea,  angry 
with  himself  also  for  the  effort  which  his  little  speech 
had  cost  him.  In  England  he  counted  himself  a  Radical, 
almost  a  Socialist,  and  would  have  laughed  to  scorn  the 
idea  that  the  slightest  possible  barrier  could  exist  be- 
tween men  and  women  of  unequal  birth.  But  out  here, 
in  the  presence  of  this  girl  who  spoke  her  mind  so 
simply,  yet  with  such  absolute  conviction,  he  seemed  to 
have  come  into  touch  with  a  new  order !  The  aristoc- 
racy which  was  to  her  as  a  creed  was  a  real  and  a  live 
thing !  He  almost  justified  her  in  his  mind.  What 
was  surely  a  fallacy  in  England  might  be  truth  here. 

The  silence  was  prolonged.  Then  he  glanced  up  to 
find  her  watching  him  with  a  slight  smile  curving  her 
lips. 

"  To  you,"  she   said,  "  I  must   seem   very   old-fash- 


ioo  THE  TRAITORS 

ioned.  Oh,  yes,  I  can  understand  your  point  of  view. 
If  I  have  not  travelled  I  have  at  least  read,  and  your 
English  books  make  these  things  clear  enough.  But 
here  we  are  surrounded  with  the  old  customs.  It  is 
not  pnsaihlft  to  escape  from  them.  We  are  almost 
mediaeval." 

"  I  am  looking  forward  to  studying  your  country 
closely,"  he  said.  "  What  I  have  seen  of  it  has  charmed 
me.  So  far  I  have  come  across  but  one  thing  which  I 
would  gladly  change." 

"  And  that  ?  "  she  asked. 

"Is  the  uniform  of  the  Thetian  Guards,"  he  an- 
swered, turning  slightly  in  his  chair.  "  I  must  confess 
that  my  body  was  never  made  for  such  gorgeousness." 

She  laughed  and  struck  the  gong. 

"  Basil  will  show  you  to  my  brother's  room,"  she 
said.  "  Wear  any  of  his  clothes  you  choose." 

He  rose  with  alacrity. 

"  You  will  be  safe — alone  ?  "  he  asked,  with  a 
doubtful  glance  towards  the  door. 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  Domiloff  has  courage,  I  believe,  of  a  sort,"  she 
answered,  "but  not  enough  to  bring  him  uninvited 
across  the  threshold  of  this  house  in  my  brother's 
absence." 

He  followed  the  servant  from  the  room,  and  was 
shown  into  a  bedchamber  of  huge  proportions.  He 
changed  his  clothes  as  quickly  as  possible  for  those 
which  were  tendered  to  him,  and  returned  to  the  room 
where  he  had  left  the  Countess.  She  welcomed  him 
with  a  smile  which  she  tried  in  vain  to  suppress. 


THE  TRAITORS  101 

"  You  must  forgive  me,"  she  said,  as  their  eyes  met. 
"  Indeed,  it  is  hard  to  avoid  a  smile.  My  brother  is  of 
slight  stature,  and  you  are  very  tall, — is  it  not  so  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  mind,"  he  answered,  good-humouredly, 
conscious  that  his  trousers  terminated  at  the  ankle,  and 
that  the  seams  of  his  unbuttoned  coat  were  bursting. 
"  I  should  be  comfortable  in  anything  since  I  have  got 
rid  of  that  sword  and  the  other  thing  like  a  satchel 
which  kept  tripping  me  up.  The  management  of  a 
woman's  train  has  always  seemed  to  me  an  accomplish- 
ment, but  it  is  nothing  compared  with  the  difficulty  of 
walking  like  a  soldier  with  those  things  whacking  at 
your  ankles  every  few  moments.  One  thing  I  can 
promise  you  and  myself,  Countess.  If  Domiloff  and 
the  whole  lot  of  them  catch  me  nothing  would  induce  me 
to  put  on  that  uniform  again." 

"  It  was  very  becoming,"  she  said,  smilingly. 

"  You  are  making  fun  of  me,"  he  declared,  reproach- 
fully. 

"  Indeed  I  meant  it,"  she  assured  him.  "  I  never 
doubted  but  that  you  were  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  !  " 

He  felt  absurdly  pleased.  There  was  a  note  of  regret 
too  in  her  tone.  Then,  as  though  with  some  effort  she 
addressed  him  more  formally. 

"  You  need  have  no  fear,"  she  said,  "  that  Domiloff 
will  find  you  here.  Neither  he  nor  any  of  his  creatures 
dare  force  their  way  into  this  house.  All  that  we  must 
pray  for  now  is  the  speedy  coming  of  Nicholas  and  the 
Prince." 

Almost  as  she  spoke  they  heard  quick  footsteps  upon 
the  corridor  outside.  The  door  was  thrown  open.  ** 


CHAPTER  XIV 

NICHOLAS  of  Reist,  closely  followed  by  Prince 
Ughtred,  strode  into  the  room.  Marie  uttered  a  little 
cry  of  joy — Brand  drew  a  long  sigh  of  relief. 

"  Nicholas,  at  last !  "  she  cried. 

He  seized  her  hands  and  drew  her  to  him.  Then  he 
turned  to  Ughtred. 

"  You  will  not  recognize  your  old  playmate,  Prince," 
he  said.  "  Marie,  this  is  Prince  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus." 

He  bowed  low  before  her,  and  she  murmured  a  few 
words  of  greeting.  Then  both  Nicholas  of  Reist  and 
Ughtred  saw  Brand  standing  underneath  the  great 
chimneypiece. 

"  Brand  !  "  the  former  cried.  "  Brand  !  How  in 
God's  name  did  you  find  your  way  here  ?  " 

Brand  smiled  enigmatically. 

"  Listen,"  he  said,  "  and  I  will  tell  you." 

They  stood  grouped  around  him.  He  told  his  story 
tersely  yet  fully.  When  he  had  finished  there  was  a 
moment's  breathless  silence.  He  pointed  to  the  door. 

"You  have  not  a  moment  to  lose,"  he  exclaimed. 
"  The  people  are  bewildered  now,  soon  they  will  become 
impatient.  The  uniform  is  in  the  room  where  I  changed. 
Let  Prince  Ughtred  put  it  on  and  speak  to  the  people 
from  your  balcony.  It  will  turn  Domiloff's  hair  grey, 
but  he  is  powerless.  Listen  !  " 

Once    more    brother    and    sister    exchanged    quick 

IO2 


THE  TRAITORS  103 

glances.  Once  more  the  men  of  Theos,  as  with  one 
throat,  shouted  for  Nicholas  of  Reist.  Marie  looked 
curiously  towards  the  Prince.  He  was  handsomer  than 
Brand,  broader  and  of  finer  presence.  Yet  her  eyes 
narrowed  with  something  which  was  akin  to  hate,.  In_ 
her  heart  she  believed  that  her  brother  was  making  a 
great  mistake.  It  was  a  Reist  this  people  wanted,  not 
one  of  his  corrupt  race. 

"  Brand  is  right !  "  Reist  decided.  "  Prince,  my 
servants  will  show  you  to  my  room  and  assist  you.  I 
will  speak  a  few  words  to  the  people  and  prepare  them 
for  your  coming." 

From  topmost  storey  to  basement  the  Reist  house 
flashed  out  in  sudden  light.  The  people,  who  were 
weary  of  shouting  in  front  of  the  palace,  marked  the 
change,  and  a  sudden  rush  took  place.  It  was  Reist 
who  stood  there  with  his  hands  resting  lightly  upon  the 
balustrade.  A  roar  of  welcome  greeted  him.  Now  at 
last  this  mystery  would  be  cleared  up.  Then  there 
followed  a  silence  so  intense,  so  breathless,  that  the  very 
air  seemed  charged  with  the  tension  of  it.  Reist's  voice 
rang  out  like  a  still,  clear  note,  perfectly  audible  to  all. 

"  My  country  people,"  he  said,  "  not  many  days  ago 
you  charged  me  with  a  mission.  To-night  I  acquit  my- 
self of  it.  I  bring  you  good  news.  The  illustrious 
soldier  who  has  won  fame  fighting  another  country's 
battles  has  never  for  one  moment  forgotten  his  name  or 
his  native  land,  has  never  forgotten  his  descent  from 
that  great  race  of  Tyrnaus  who,  generations  ago,  made 
your  country  one  to  be  feared  and  respected  throughout 
Europe.  He  is  willing  to  come  to  our  aid  in  these  evil 


104  THE  TRAITORS 

times.  He  is  a  brave  man  and  a  just.  He  will  rule  you 
as  a  soldier  King!  May  the  God  of  our  ancestors  bless 
his  reign,  and  preserve  for  everlasting  the  independence 
of  Theos  and  the  freedom  of  our  sons  !  " 

As  the  last  word  had  left  Reist's  lips  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  in  all  the  bravery  of  his  brilliant  uniform 
passed  through  the  great  room.  Marie,  who  had  been 
watching  for  him,  shrank  back  at  his  near  approach  in 
something  like  awe.  For  indeed  it  seemed  as  though 
Rudolph  the  Great,  whose  picture  frowned  down  upon 
them  from  the  wainscotted  wall,  walked  once  more  in 
their  midst.  The  unwonted  excitement  had  given  fire 
to  his  features,  seemed  indeed  to  have  added  inches  to 
his  great  stature.  No  wonder  that  the  people  who  saw 
him  come  raised  their  voices  in  a  great  shout  of  welcome. 

"  A  Tyrnaus  !     A  Tyrnaus  !     God  save  the  King  !  " 

The  band  struck  up  the  National  Anthem,  and  from 
the  throats  of  thousands  came  that  strange,  thrilling  air, 
the  song  of  their  liberty.  Prince  Ughtred  listened  with 
tears  in  his  eyes — and  in  the  palace  Domiloff  held  his 
head  and  walked  backwards  and  forwards  in  speechless 
bewilderment.  The  last  bars  died  away.  Then  Ugh- 
tred spoke  to  his  people,  and  these  are  some  of  the 
things  which  he  said. 

"  Men  of  Theos,  that  song  which  you  have  sung  has 
followed  me  into  many  strange  countries.  I  have  ridden 
into  battles  with  it  in  my  ears,  I  have  heard  it  amongst 
the  roaring  of  the  guns  and  in  the  silent  watches  of  the 
night.  To  me  it  has  always  sounded  like  very  sweet 
music,  for  it  has  recalled  to  me  ever  my  native  land. 
I,  too,  you  must  remember,  am  a  son  of 


THE  TRAITORS  105 

Theos.  For  long  I  have  been  an  exile,  but  no  other 
country  has  ever  seemed  like  home  to  me.  Always  I 
have  hoped  that  some  day  my  lot  might  bring  me  back 
to  the  homeland  amongst  the  mountains  so  inexpressibly 
dear  to  all  of  us.  ...  I,  too,  though  far  away, 
have  followed  ever  the  fortunes  of  Theos.  I  have 
read  of  her  sufferings  and  her  misfortunes.  I  have 
blushed  with  shame  to  read  of  those,  who,  calling  them- 
selves her  sons,  would  have  bartered  away  her  liberty  for 
gold.  .  .  .  And  now  you  have  done  away  with  this 
hateful  Republic.  The  House  of  Laws  is  once  more 
convoked.  The._Duke  of  Reist  has  sought  me  out  ajid 
brought  from  you  a  wonderful  message.  Well,  I  know 
little  of  kingcraft,  but  I  may  at  least  call  myself  a 
soldier.  If  the  House  of  Laws  will  ratify  your  choice, 
nothing  in  this  world  could  make  me  happier  than  to 
throw  in  my  lot  with  yours,  to  devote  my  life  to  pre- 
serving for  you  and  Theos  that  ancient  and  God-given 
heritage — our  freedom  !  This  little  State  is  surrounded, 
it  is  true,  by  powerful  enemies.  Yet  God  is  not  always 
with  the  strong.  Let  us  be  fearless,  just,  and  slow  to 
give  offence.  Then,  if  we  are  attacked,  it  must  be  war 
to  the  bitter  end.  We  can  at  least  live  like  men  and  die 
heroes.  My  people,  if  it  comes  to  pass  that  I  am 
chosen  to  be  your  King,  I  can  promise  you  this.  While 
I  live,  and  whilst  a  single  one  of  you  will  stand  by  my 
side,  we  will  remain  a  free  and  independent  nation. 
We  will  hand  to  our  children  their  birthright  untarnished 
and,  entire.  This  is  my  word  to  you,  and  if  ever  I  fail  to 
keep  it  may  I  forfeit  my  place  through  all  eternity  by  the 
side  of  my  forefathers  who  gave  their  lives  for  Theos," 


106  THE  TRAITORS 

The  air  was  rent  with  frantic  cheering.  These  were 
the  words  and  this  the  man  to  win  their  hearts.  So 
throughout  the  crowd  swept  a  passionate  and  over- 
whelming wave  of  enthusiasm.  Domiloff  heard  it  and 
swore  unutterable  things  under  his  breath.  Reistyfor  all 
that  this  was  his  doing,  felt  a  certain  momentary  anger 
with  this  people  who  had  taken  a  stranger  so  swiftly 
into  their  heart.  Marie  said  nothing,  but  her  dark  eyes 
were  eloquent.  Ughtred  stepped  back  at  last  into  the 
room  with  a  glow  upon  his  face  which  for  a  moment 
transformed  it. 

"  You  are  an  orator,  my  friend,"  Reist  said,  quietly. 
"You  have  won  your  throne.  No  House  of  Laws 
would  refuse  to  confirm  the  choice  of  such  an  assem- 
blage." 

"  I  think,"  Brand  said,  quietly,  "  that  I  will  go  round 
to  the  telegraph  office.  The  time  has  arrived  when  I 
may  take  a  hand  in  the  game." 

From  the  corridor  came  the  sound  of  hurried  foot- 
steps. Old  Basil,  the  major  domo,  threw  open  the  door. 

"The  Baron  Domiloff,  your  Excellency,"  he  an- 
nounced. » 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE  room  was  large  and  dimly  lit.  Domiloff,  beside 
himself  with  anger,  saw  only  Ughtred's  tall  figure  in 
resplendent  uniform,  standing  beneath  the  great  carved 
mantelpiece.  He  addressed  him  fiercely. 

"  How  is  this  ?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  How  came  you 
here  ?  What  is  the  meaning  of  it  ?  " 

Ughtred  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  gravely ;  then 
turned  to  Reist. 

"Who  is  this  person?"  he  asked.  "  Why  does  he 
address  me  in  this  fashion  ?  " 

Reist  looked  from  one  to  the  other  with  a  faint 
smile. 

"  Permit  me  to  present  to  your  Highness,"  he  said, 
"Monsieur,  the  Baron  Domiloff,  the  representative  of 
Russia  in  Theos." 

Domiloff  was  white  with  rage. 

"  ffiit  it  is  a  farce,  this ! "  he  exclaimed,  fiercely. 
"  Prince  Ughtred  and  I  are  not  strangers.  I  demand  an 
explanation,  sir." 

"  An  explanation  of  what  ?  "  Ughtred  asked. 

Domiloff  was  beside  himself.  His  black  eyes  burned 
like  live  coals,  his  cheeks  were  pallid  almost  to  ghastli- 
ness,  the  muscles  of  his  face  were  twitching. 

"  Of  your  presence  here,  sir,"  he  exclaimed.  "  Of 
your  flight  from  the  palace,  of  your  speech  to  the  peo- 
ple. It  was  only  an  hour  ago  that  you  declared  your- 

107 


io8  THE  TRAITORS 

self  ignorant  of  the  language.  It  seems  that  your  state- 
ment was  false  !  " 

"  Baron  Domiloff  is  suffering,  perhaps,  from  some 
hallucination,"  Ughtred  said,  quietly.  "  I  have  never, 
to  the  best  of  my  belief,  exchanged  a  word  with  him  in 
my  life.  As  to  my  flight  from  the  palace,  I  have  never 
yet  entered  it ;  nor  do  I  propose  to  do  so  until  I  enter 
it  as  King  of  Theos." 

DomilofPs  senses  were  blinded  with  passion.  The 
broader  stature  of  the  Prince,  his  more  military  bearing 
and  different  accent  were  things  of  which  he  took  no 
note.  He  never  once  questioned  the  identity  of  the  man 
whom  he  was  addressing  so  fiercely. 

"  Your  Highness  will  deny  next,"  he  exclaimed,  "  that 
you  travelled  with  me  from  the  frontier,  that  your  word 
is  pledged  to  sign  a  treaty  with  Russia." 

Ughtred  shrugged  his  shoulders  slightly. 

"  The  duties  of  a  minister  plenipotentiary,"  he  re- 
marked, "  are,  I  believe,  arduous.  Baron  Domiloff  is 
suffering,  without  doubt,  from  overwork.  It  is  unneces- 
sary for  me  to  remark  that  I  reached  here  on  horseback 
in  company  with  my  friend  Reist,  and  that  my  word 
i§  pledged  to  sign  nothing — least  of  all  a  treaty  with 
Russia." 

Domiloff  was  absolutely  speechless  with  passion. 
Brand  came  out  from  the  shadows  amongst  which  he 
had  been  loitering,  and  faced  the  Russian. 

"  Do  you  know,"  he  said,  amiably,  "  I  believe  that 
I  can  clear  up  this  little  misunderstanding.  Baron 
Domiloff  is  obviously  mistaking  you,  Prince  Ughtred, 
for  me," 


THE  TRAITORS  109 

Domiloff  turned  upon  him  swiftly. 

"  And  who,  sir,  are  you  ?  "  he  asked,  harshly. 

"  Walter  Brand,  journalist — the  Daily  Courier^  you 
know." 

Domiloff  caught  up  the  lamp  which  stood  on  the 
long  oaken  table,  and  looked  steadily  from  one  to  the 
other  of  the  two  men.  When  he  set  it  down  there  was 
a  queer,  bitter,  little  smile  upon  his  lips.  The  moment 
was  one  of  unspeakable  humiliation  to  him.  He,  a 
seasoned  diplomatist,  trusted  by  his  master,  feared  and 
respected  everywhere,  had  been  befooled  and  outwitted 
— by  an  Englishman  ! 

"  I  beg  to  offer  my  tardy  congratulations  to  your 
Highness,"  he  said,  bowing  to  Ughtred.  "  My  mistake 
was  an  unpardonable  one.  Yet  this  gentleman  is,  per- 
haps, also  of  the  family  of  Tyrnaus  ?  The  resemblance 
is  certainly  remarkable." 

"  Mr.  Brand  is  not  connected  in  any  way  with  my 
family,"  Ughtred  answered.  "The  resemblance  be- 
tween us  is  merely  a  coincidence — to  which  it  seems  I 
owe  my  presence  here,  Baron  Domiloff." 

The  Russian  remained  silent.  He  stood  with  bowed 
head,  awaiting  the  storm. 

"  It  appears,"  Ughtred  continued,  "  that  by  proxy 
I  was  drugged  and  detained  upon  the  frontier  by  your 
orders.  For  these  doings  I  shall  certainly,  when  the 
proper  moment  arrives,  demand  an  explanation." 

Domiloff  raised  his  eyes  for  a  moment.  His  expres- 
sion was  inscrutable. 

u  When  the  time  comes,  your  Highness,"  he  said,  "  I 
shall  be  prepared  to  satisfy  you.'1 


no  THE  TRAITORS 

He  passed  from  the  room  without  any  formal  leave- 
taking.  Reist  looked  after  him  thoughtfully. 

"  An  enemy  !  Well,  at  least  we  are  forewarned. 
Prince  Ughtred,  there  will  be  no  rest  for  you  now, 
or,  I  fear,  for  many  days.  Domiloff  has  gone  without 
doubt  to  the  barracks.  We  must  forestall  him.  I 
have  ordered  fresh  horses  to  be  brought  to  the  door. 
Marie,  some  wine  !  We  are  thirsty  !  Wine  from  the 
King's  cup  ! " 

A  servant,  whose  livery  seemed  but  a  slight  modi- 
fication of  the  native  dress,  brought  some  dust-covered 
bottles.  Marie,  with  her  own  hand,  unlocked  an  oaken 
cabinet,  and  produced  some  quaint  horn  cups,  em- 
blazoned in  gold,  with  the  Reist  arms.  One  larger  than 
the  others  she  set  before  the  Prince. 

"  They  were  a  present,"  Reist  said,  "  from  Rudolph 
the  Second  to  my  great-grandfather.  The  cup  you 
have  is  called  the  King's  cup.  No  one  who  is  not  of 

O  1  ~J.>.-^— ...    »w.  „.»    -.^•^^.^•••W   .«.M~~.»— I»..~M*.MN 

Royal  birth  has  ever  drunk  out  of  it.     Permit  me  !  " 

He  filled  it  to  the  brim,  and  Ughtred,  who  was 
thirsty,  raised  it  gladly  to  his  lips.  Reist  and  Brand 
waited. 

"To  Theos  and  her  King,"  Reist  said,  gravely. 
"This  is  our  ancient  toast.  May  her  sons  be  ever 
brave,  her  rulers  wise,  and  her  soil  fruitful !  God 
save  the  King !  " 

They  drank  together.  Marie  stood  at  the  head  of 
the  table,  her  dark  eyes  full  of  silent  fires,  her  fingers 
nervously  twitching.  Ughtred  turned  towards  her. 

"You,  too,"  he  said,  "must  drink  with  us.  Nay,  I 
will  have  no  refusal.  You  will  honour  me." 


THE  TRAITORS  in 

He  held  his  cup  towards  her.     She  shook  her  head . 

"  Not  from  the  King's  cup,"  she  said.  "  See,  I  have 
a  goblet  here." 

But  Ughtred  was  insistent. 

"  I  have  the  weakness  of  my  forefathers,"  he  declared, 
"and  I  am  superstitious.  It  will  be  for  my  good 
fortune,  and  the  good  fortune  of  Theos.  You  shall 
drink  with  me  from  the  King's  cup." 

A  spot  of  colour  burned  in  the  girl's  cheeks.  She 
drew  back.  A  swift  glance  passed  between  brother  and 
sister.  It  was  Reist  who  answered. 

"Your  Highness,"  he  said,  gravely,  "in  this  little 
corner  of  the  earth  we  hold  hard  to  all  our  old  traditions, 
and  for  more  than  a  hundred  years — ay,  since  first  that 
cup  was  fashioned,  none  have  drunk  from  it  save  only 
those  of  the  royal  House,  and " 

He  hesitated.     Ughtred  waited  for  him  to  continue. 

"  And  their  betrothed." 

Ughtred  started.  Marie  looked  downwards,  and  the 
deep  colour  mounted  even  to  her  forehead.  There  was 
a  moment's  silence.  Then  the  spirit  of  obstinacy  which 
had  been  kindled  in  Ughtred  prevailed. 

"  I  take  upon  my  own  shoulders,"  he  said,  smiling, 
"  all  the  evil  that  may  come  of  it,  and  I  pray,  Countess 
Marie,  that  you  will  honour  me  by  drinking  from  my 
cup." 

She  lifted  her  head,  and  the  eyes  of  brother  and  sister 
met  once  more — a  single  electric  moment.  Ughtred 

«»1»«JBL«  »>»•«•«  •""•"•I       •*!>!     •^••••••^^•^••••••••l'*^**"*  O 

was  conscious  of  little  save  of  a  masterful  desire  to  have 
his  own  way.  His  blue  eyes  were  filled  with  a  com- 
pelling light.  Perhaps,  too,  a  little  admiration  was 


H2  THE  TRAITORS 

apparent  in  his  bronzed,  handsome  face.  Marie  took 
the  cup,  and  raised  it  to  her  lips. 

"  I  drink,"  she  murmured,  "  to  the  welfare  of  Theos, 
and  to  her  King  !  " 

There  was  another  brief  but  curiously  intense  silence. 
Reist  was  standing  apart  with  folded  arms  and  absorbed 
face — Brand,  too,  had  set  down  his  cup,  and  was  watch- 
ing Marie.  Ughtred  had  an  uneasy  feeling  that  what 
he  had  regarded  merely  as  an  act  of  courtesy  had 
become  a  sacrament.  The  entrance  of  a  servant  was  a 
relief  to  them  all. 

"  The  horses,  your  Grace,"  he  announced, "  are  at  the 
side  door.  The  people  are  lining  the  way  to  the 
barracks." 

Reist  roused  himself  quickly. 

"  Your  Highness  is  ready  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  There 
is  not  a  moment  to  lose.  We  shall  know  now  how  deep 
is  the  corruption  which  DomilofPs  gold  has  caused." 

Ughtred  drained  his  cup  and  stood  up. 

"  I  am  ready  !  "  he  declared. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

"  IT  is  not  only  your  country's  welfare,"  Domiloff 
said,  "  which  trembles  in  the  balance.  It  is  her  very 
existence.  I  appeal  to  you,  General  Dart npff — to  you, 
Bushkieff.  If  you  accept  this  man,  Theos  as  an  inde- 
pendent country  will  soon  be  blotted  from  the  map." 

Domiloff  stood  leaning  with  his  back  against  the  long 
deal  table.  Gathered  together  before  him  were  a  dozen 
men  or  more  in  the  undress  uniform  of  the  Moranian 
Guards.  Dartnoff,  his  white  hair  brushed  straight  back 
from  his  forehead,  a  tall,  soldierly  figure  notwithstanding 
his  sixty  years,  stepped  a  little  forward. 

"  My  friend,  Domiloff,"  he  said,  "  we  are  gathered 
here,  as  you  know,  in  a  state  of  some  indecision.  I  will 
frankly  admit  that  as  yet  we  have  not  made  up  our 
minds  how  to  act.  Yet  it  seems  to  me  that  you  go  a 
little  far.  We  have  more  faith  in  ourselves  and  in  the 
destinies  of  our  ancient  kingdom  than  you  seem  willing 
to  give  us  credit  for.  The  end  might  be  as  you  say 
supposing  we  found  ourselves  involved  with  one  of  the 
great  Powers.  But  let  me  assure  you,  Baron  Domiloff, 
that  the  contest  would  be  no  bloodless  one.  Theos  has 
held  her  own,  beset  though  she  has  been  by  powerful 
enemies,  for  many  centuries." 

A  little  murmur  of  applause  escaped  from  the  lips  of 
those  gathered  around  him.  Domiloff  held  up  his  hand. 

"  The   past   of  your  country,"  he  exclaimed,  "  is  a 


ii4  THE  TRAITORS 

magnificent  chapter  in  history.  It  is  the  more  incum- 
bent upon  you  to  see  that  she  has  a  future.  Warfare 
to-day  has  become  a  science.  Reckless  bravery  is  no 
longer  the  surety  of  success.  Theos  is  without  any  of 
the  modern  appliances  of  war.  Her  artillery  is  ancient 
and  her  guns  fit  for  the  dust-heap.  General  Dartnoff,  a 
heavy  responsibility  rests  upon  your  shoulders." 

Dartnoff  stroked  his  long  grey  moustache  thoughtfully. 

"  Domiloff,  my  friend,"  he  said,  "  you  appear  a  little 
flurried,  but  you  are  also  very  much  in  earnest.  Now 
speak  to  us  exactly  the  words  which  are  in  your  heart. 
You  have  advice  to  give,  eh  ?  Well,  we  will  listen." 

Domiloff  moved  to  the  high  bare  window,  and  looked 
downwards  towards  the  town.  As  yet  there  was  no 
sign  of  the  figures  which  he  dreaded  to  see.  He  faced 
once  more  the  little  assemblage. 

"  Here  are  plain  words,"  he  said,  speaking  rapidly, 
and  with  rising  colour.  "  If  I  have  seemed  evasive 
hitherto  it  is  because  I  come  to  persuade,  not  to  dictate, 
and  I  know  that  the  tempers  of  you  men  of  Theos  are 
easily  kindled.  Nicholas  of  Reist  brings  to-day  a  for- 
gotten descendant  of  the  Tyrnaus  family,  and  with  your 
consent  would  make  him  King.  I  say  with  your  con- 
sent, because  the  House  of  Laws  is  nothing  to  day  but 
a  farcical  assembly,  and  they  will  do  what  Reist  bids 
them.  The  real  decision  rests  with  you.  Listen. 
Russia  will  refuse  to  recognize  this  man.  If  you  accept 
him  her  restraining  hand  upon  Turkey  will  be  removed. 
Russia  herself  may  not  think  it  worth  while  to  move 
against  you,  but  even  now  in  secret  the  Turks  are  mass- 
ing upon  your  borders.  They  wait  only  for  the  signal." 


THE  TRAITORS  115 

Dartnoff  nodded  gravely. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  let  us  hear  what  will  happen  to  us 
supposing  we  accept  your  warning  and  refuse  to  recog- 
nize Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus." 

"  The  protection  of  Russia,"  Domiloff  cried,  eagerly. 
"  My  master  himself  shall  guarantee  your  independence. 
I  will  give  you  pledges.  You  will  reserve  for  a  friend 
and  an  ally  the  most  generous  of  the  Powers.  But  you 
must  be  quick,"  he  added,  with  a  sudden  start.  "  Now 
is  the  time  for  you  to  act.  Close  the  gates  upon  those 
who  come  here  to-night.  It  shall  be  your  answer." 

Dartnoff  shook  his  head. 

"  I  cannot  do  that,"  he  said.  "  Nicholas  of  Reist  is  a 
colonel  in  our  army,  and  he  has  the  right  to  enter  here 
at  any  time." 

There  was  the  thunder  of  hoofs  in  the  courtyard. 
Domiloff  bit  his  lip  and  looked  nervously  around. 

"  Reist  is  a  traitor,"  he  exclaimed.  "  It  is  against  the 
law  to  harbour  a  Tyrnaus." 

"  We  will  hear  what  our  friend  Nicholas  of  Reist  has 
to  say,"  Dartnoff  answered,  coldly.  "  You  might  per- 
haps find  it  advisable  to  retire,  Baron  Domiloff." 

The  door  was  thrown  open.  Nicholas  and  Ughtred 
entered.  General  Dartnoff  stepped  forward. 

"  General,"  Nicholas  exclaimed,  "  and  brother  officers 
of  the  Thetian  Guards.  I  have  the  honour  to  present 
you  to  Prince  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus." 

Ughtred  held  out  his  hand  frankly.  But  there  was 
not  one  of  them  who  did  not  bow  low,  after  the  manner 
of  one  making  an  obeisance  rather  than  exchanging 
greetings. 


n6  THE  TRAITORS 

"Your  names  are  well  known  to  me,"  Ughtred  said. 
"  I  believe  that  by  hereditary  right  I  may  call  myself  a 
colonel  in  your  regiment  and  a  brother  officer." 

Dartnoff  bowed. 

"  Your  Highness  is  pleased  to  remember  what  is  un- 
doubtedly a  fact,"  he  said.  "  The  brave  deeds  of  Cap- 
tain Erlito  in  the  Soudan  have  been  a  source  of  pride  to 
all  of  "u"s." 

Ughtred  smiled  with  pleasure — and  Nicholas,  with  his 
hand  upon  his  sword,  addressed  General  Dartnoff  in 
clear  tones. 

"  General  Dartnoff,"  he  said,  "  I  take  the  liberty  of 
addressing  you  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Thetian 
army.  The  Republic  of  Theos  has  ceased  by  reason  of 
its  owi^misdeedsj:p  exist.  I  have  always,  as  you  know, 
refused  to  recognize  its  legislation.  I  claim  that  its 
"  decree  abolishing  the  ancient  monarchy  and  establishing 
a  republic  here  was  invalid  and  worthless.  We  have 
been  made  the  laughing-stock  of  Europe  by  the  gold- 
bought  merchants  and  traitors  who  have  presumed  to 
occupy  the  high  places  of  Theos.  That  is  all  at  an  end. 
It  rests  with  us  to  restore  honour  and  dignity  to  our 
country.  There  is  but  one  way,  but  that  a  sure  one, 
General  Dartnoff  and  brother  officers.  We  come  here 
alone  and  unattended,  but  had  we  wished  it  we  could 
have  stormed  your  walls  with  half  the  population  of 
Theos  at  our  backs.  I  .call  upon  you  all  to  take  the 
jpath  of  allegiance  to  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  King  of 
Fheos,  by  divine  right  and  the  choice  of  the  people." 

General  Dartnoff  hesitated  for  a  moment. 

"  Duke  of  Reist,"  he  said,  slowly.     "  You  ask  us  to 


THE  TRAITORS  117 

take  a  step  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment  from  which 
there  could  be  no  drawing  back,  which  for  good  or  for 
evil  must  decide  forever  the  destinies  of  our  country. 
Whatever  my  own  personal  inclinations  might  be,  I  owe 
it  to  my  brother  officers,  and  to  our  deep  sense  of 
patriotism  to  consult  with  them  for  a  few  minutes." 

Reist  would  have  spoken  hastily,  but  Ughtred  checked 
him. 

u  General  Dartnoff  has  spoken  like  a  wise  man,"  he 
said.  "  I  am  content  to  wait." 

With  folded  arms,  drawn  to  his  full  height,  a  com- 
manding figure  indeed,  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  stood  by  the 
window  looking  down  upon  the  city  and  the  country 
which  he  loved.  General  Dartnoff,  surrounded  by  his 
officers,  stood  at  the  head  of  the  table.  In  the  further 
corner  of  the  room  where  the  shadows  were  deepest 
Domiloff  lurked.  He  watched  their  faces,  and  he  knew 
that  the  game  was  lost. 

Only  a  very  few  minutes  had  gone  by  before  Dartnoff 
approached  the  two  men  by  the  window. 

"  Your  Highness,"  he  said,  to  Ughtred,  with  marked 
respect.  "  There  is  one  question  which  we  feel  con- 
strained to  ask." 

Ughtred  bowed. 

"  As  many  as  you  will,"  he  answered. 

"  In  jyour  coronation  oath  you  swear  to  maintain._in= 
violate  the  independence  of  Theos.  We  would  know  if 
at  all  costs,  though  the  cost  should  be  famine,  death  or 
annihilation,  will  you  keep  this  oath  to  the  letter  ?^ 

"May  God  have  no  mercy  upon  me  hereafter  if  ever 
J  should  depart  from  it  one  hair's-breadth,"  Ughtred  an-- 


u8  THE  TRAITORS 

swered,  with  a  sudden  note  of  passion  surging  up  in  his 
tone.  "  I  have  no  fancy  for  ruling  a  tributary  state,  sir. 
My  forefathers  have  held  safely  for  Theos  through  long 
generations  the  priceless  gift  of  her  liberty,  and  I  would 
sooner  die  a  thousand  times  over  than  that  mine  should 
be  the  hand  to  part  with  it." 

General  Dartnoff  dropped  on  his  knee,  and  drawing 
his  sword  from  his  scabbard,  kissed  its  hilt. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "we  are  all  your  faithful 
servants," 


CHAPTER  XVII 

"  WELL  ! " 

Reist  unfastened  his  sword.  The  State  uniform  of 
the  Thetian  Guards  was  cumbersome,  and  the  day  was 
hot. 

"  Let  Basil  bring  me  wine,"  he  ordered.  "  The 
cathedral  was  a  furnace.  Everywhere  the  air  seems 
hot  with  the  shouting  of  the  people." 

"  Up  here,"  Marie  said,  "  the  clamour  of  voices  has 
seemed  incessant.  I  have  never  heard  anything  like  it." 

He  walked  up  and  down  moodily.  He  was  not  sure 
whether  the  day  had  gone  according  to  his  liking.  All 
the  time  her  eyes  questioned  him. 

"  One  thing,"  he  declared,  "  is  certain.  Never  again 
will  a  republic  exist  in  Theos.  Two  generations  of 
roues  and  madmen  have  not  sickened  this  people  of  the 
House  of  Tyrnaus.  Their  loyalty  is  amazing." 

"  This  man,"  she  said,  "  is  neither  roue  nor  mad- 
man." 

"  It  is  true,"  he  admitted. 

He  drank  his  wine,  and  as  he  set  the  glass  down  he 
felt  her  watching  him.  He  understood  the  unspoken 
question  in  her  deep,  blue  eyes. 

"  Of  his  betrothal,"  Reist  said,  slowly,  "  there  was 
no  word." 

She  drew  herself  up  haughtily,  a  slim,  stately  figure  in 
her  magnificent  white  dress,  caught  up  with  jewels,  and 

119 


120  THE  TRAITORS 

the  curious  bejewelled  head-dress  which  in  Theos  was 
the  symbol  of  her  rank.  Yet  Nicholas,  who  watched 
her  closely,  caught  the  gleam  of  something  in  her  eyes 
which  surprised  him.  It  was  more  like  relief  than 
anger. 

u  Was  our  ancient  usage  explained  to  him  ? "  she 
asked. 

"  Yes  !  I  told  him  that  an  unmarried  king  was  con- 
trary to  the  time-sanctioned  custom  of  our  country.  I 
told  him  that  the  announcement  of  his  betrothal  should 
be  made  at  the  moment  of  his  coronation.  The  people 
expected  it,  and  it  would  add  immensely  to  his  popu- 
larity." 

"  You  told  him  that  ?  " 

"  Yes ! " 

"And  he  answered?" 

"  He  answered  me  with  a  jest.  As  yet  he  was  not 
prepared  to  marry  or  to  think  of  marriage.  He  pre- 
ferred to  retain  his  liberty." 

She  bit  her  lip,  and  the  colour  mantled  in  her  cheeks. 

"And  you?" 

He  hesitated. 

"  It  was  after  the  words  of  the  ceremony.  He  was 
my  king.  Between  a  Reist  and  a  Tyrnaus  the  difference 
is  purely  accidental.  The  Reists  are,  indeed,  the  older 
and  the  nobler  family.  But  between  a  Reist  and  his 
king  there  is  a  gulf.  I  cannot  point  my  sword  against 
him." 

She  walked  restlessly  up  and  down  the  room.  Her 
thoughts  were  in  confusion.  For  some  vague,  unac- 
knowledged cause,  her  first  impulse  had  been  one  of 


THE  TRAITORS  121 

relief.  She  had  expected  a  formal  offer  for  her  hand, 
and  she  would  scarcely  admit  even  to  herself  that  that 
expectation  had  been  a  dread.  Yet  to  be  ignored 
touched  her  pride  keenly.  She  stopped  by  her  brother's 
chair. 

"What,  then?"  she  asked.  "Am  I,  the  Countess_ 
Marie  of  Reist,  to  be  flouted  and  passed  over  by  a 
beggarly  soldier,  whose  life  has  been  spent  as  an  ad- 
venturer, because  the  blood  of  the  House  of  Tyrnaus  is 
in  his  veins  and  chance  has  brought  him  to  the  throne  ? 
Nicholas,  am  I  to  look  to  you  in  vain  to  avenge  this 
insult  ? " 

The  man's  eyes  flashed  fire. 

"  Be  patient,  Marie,"  he  answered.  "  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  has  lived  in  strange  countries  all  his  life,  and 
imbibed  the  hateful  modernisms  of  the  West.  Let  us 
wait  for  a  little.  Perhaps  he  does  not  understand.  Per- 
haps the  time  would  seem  to  him  too  short  even  for  a 
royal  wooing.  We  will  wat^h  and_wait.  Meanwhile, 
listen.  This  is  certain.  If  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  lives 
out  his  reign,  you  and  no  other  shall  be  his  queen. 
That  at  least  I  can  answer  for." 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  It  may  be,"  she  said,  "  that  when  he  is  ready  he 
may  find  his  opportunity  gone.  The  throne  of  Theos 
will  be  no  bed  of  roses.  In  the  meantime,  I  at  least 
shall  not  go  to  the  palace." 

Reist  looked  doubtful. 

'.'  It  was  arranged,"  he  reminded  her,  "  that  you 
should  receive  the  wives  of  the  Ministers.  It  is  your 
right  of  birth." 


122  THE  TRAITORS 

"  I  renounce  it  then  for  the  present,"  she  answered. 
"Let  him  see  how  the  fat^old  Kolashin  woman  will 
look  on  his  left  hand." 

Her  brother  watched  her  thoughtfully.  Then  he 
shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Women  are  all  alike,"  he  said  to  himself,  bitterly, 
on  his  way  to  the  palace.  "  She  is  in  love  with  Ughtred 
of  Tyrnaus.  She  has  drunk  with  him  from  the  King's 
cup.  It  is  enough  !  " 


"  Baron  Domiloff !  " 

She  rose  to  her  feet  perplexed — a  little  annoyed. 
It  was  a  visit  which  she  did  not  understand.  He  came 
swiftly  across  the  lawn  to  her,  unattended  and  un- 
announced. 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  she  said,  as  he  bowed  low 
before  her.  "  My  servants  have  no  authority  to  send 
you  here.  I  am  not  receiving  this  afternoon — and  you 
— you  surely  should  be  at  the  palace." 

"  I  offer  my  most  profound  apologies,  Countess,"  he 
said  respectfully.  "  Your  servants  are  not  at  fault.  It 
was  my  persistence  which*  prevailed." 

"  You  have  some  message  for  me  ? "  she  asked, 
doubtfully. 

"  None,"  he  answered.  "  I  have  come  here  on  my 
own  initiative.  You  will  permit  me  the  honour  of  a 
few  minutes'  interview.  As  to  my  absence  from  the 
palace,  is  that  more  likely  to  be  remarked  upon  than 
yours,  Countess  ?  " 

She  waived  the  question. 


THE  TRAITORS  123 

"  It  is  at  least  more  surprising,"  she  answered.  "  Do 
you  wish  your  Austrian  friends  to  have  it  all  their  own 
way  with  the  King  ?  " 

"  The  Countess  of  Reist's  sympathies  are,  I  fear,"  he 
murmured,  "  with  my  rival." 

"  My  sympathies,"  she  answered,  "  are  with  neither 
of  you.  You  each  seek  aggrandizement  at  our  expense. 
I  am  a  Thetian,  and  I  believe  that  the  less  we  have  to 
do  with  foreigners  the  better.  But  I  do  not  see,  Baron 
Domiloff,  what  profit  there  can  be  in  a  discussion  of  this 
sort  between  you  and  me.  I  am  still  waiting  for  an 
explanation  of  your  presence  here.  Which  of  my 
servants  has  proved  faithless  ?  " 

"  None,"  he  answered.  "  I  made  my  way  here 
unknown  to  anybody.  I  came,  Countess,  to  ask  you  a 
question." 

"  Well ! " 

He  did  not  immediately  reply.  There  was  a  good 
deal  at  stake,  and  her  manner  was  not  encouraging. 
In  the  end  it  came,  however. 

"Is  it  true  what  they  are  whispering  in  the  city — 
that  you  have  drunk  with  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  from 
the  King's  cup  ?  " 

The  Countess  rose  from  her  seat  with  flashing  eyes. 
The  Russian  stood  his  ground,  however,  respectful, 
insistent,  having  well  calculated  the  effect  of  his  words. 

"  What_jm_  infamy — that  you  should  dare  to  come 
here  and  ask  me  such  a  question.  If  you  will  not  leave 
me  at  once,  sir,  I  myself  must  return  to  the  house. 
Yo.ur  presence  here  is  .aji  insult." 

Domiloff  stood   in   the   centre   of  the  path,  and  his 


124  THE  TRAITORS 

manner  was  the  manner  of  a  man  who  has  something 
to  say,  and  will  surely  say  it. 

"  Countess,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  can  claim  no  more 
with  you,  it  is  true,  than  the  merest  acquaintance,  but  I 
beg  of  you  to  consider  whether  I  have  the  reputation  of 
doing  foolish  things  or  asking  foolish  questions.  You 
may  not  believe  it,  but  I  have  the  good  of  your  country 
at  heart.  We  in  Russia  desire  an  independent  Theos. 
When  I  see  her,  therefore,  drifting  gradually  towards 
certain  destruction,  I  brave  all  things  to  save  her." 

She  regarded  him  steadfastly,  still  angry,  but  a  trifle 
curious. 

"  Explain  yourself,  sir — if  any  explanation  is  possible." 

"  Countess,"  he  answered,  "  for  the  sake  of  your 
country,  answer  my  question." 

She  hesitated.  Her  cheeks  were  flushed.  She  drew 
herself  up  proudly. 

"  You  are  well  served,  Baron,"  she  said.  "  Your 
spies,  it  seems,  can  penetrate  even  within  the  walls  of 
the  Reist  house.  Yet  the  matter  is  no  secret.  I  have 
drunk  with  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  from  the  King's  cup." 

He  inclined  his  head  slowly. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  was  sure  of  it.  Yet  you  have 
done  well  to  tell  me.  Now  I  will  tell  you  this. 
Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  before  he  had  been  King  an  hour 
sent  to  London  to  summon  here  an  American  woman 
with  whom  he  had  been — on  the  best  terms  in 
London." 

She  was  thoughtful  for  a  moment. 

"  You  are  sure  of  this  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  of  it,"  he  answered. 


THE  TRAITORS  125 


"  Is  Si!^ 

DomilofF,  who  had  been  in  New  York,  smiled  faintly. 

"  She  is  an  American,"  he  answered.  "  Her  father 
was,  a  shopkeeper,  her  grand  fathex_a_labourer.  He 
intends  to  marry  her  !  " 

^•TB^-iiLi  ___,--.,.  ____   _____   .*>rfi  ---------  —  — 

"That  is  impossible,"  she  answered,  curtly.  "The 
people  of  Theos  would  not  permit  it." 

"When  did  a  Tyrnaus,"  he  asked,  "ever  consider 
the  welfare  or  opinion  of  his  subjects  when  the  gratifica- 
tion of  a  caprice  was  concerned." 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  And  why,"  she  asked,  "  do  you  bring  this  news 
to  me  ?  " 

"  To  give  you  an  opportunity  of  saving  your  country," 
he  answered,  promptly.  "  See,  I  will  risk  everything  —  I 
tell  you  the  whole  truth.  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  is  not 
acceptable  to  my  master  as  King  of  Theos.  We  know 
the  race  too  well.  They  are  not  to  be  trusted  —  the 
integrity  of  the  State  is  not  safe  in  their  hands.  There 
is  only  one  man  who  is  the  Heaven-designed  ruler  of 
Theos!" 

"  And  he  ?  " 

"  It  is  your  brother  !  " 

Now,  indeed,  she  was  interested.  A  rush  of  colour 
warmed  her  cheeks.  The  frigidity  of  her  manner 
vanished  as  though  by  magic. 

"  I  myself  have  told  him  so,"  she  exclaimed.  "  When 
the  people  rose  against  the  republic  they  called  for 
him.  It  was  the  golden  opportunity  which  he  failed  to 
seize." 

"  It  will  come  again,"  he  assured  her,  earnestly.     "  I 


126  THE  TRAITORS 

give  you  my  word  that  it  will  come  again.  That  shall 
be  my  care.  Yours  is  to  see  that  next  time  he  is 
prepared." 

"Why  do  you  not  yourself  speak  to  him  ?  "  she  asked. 

He  smiled. 

"You  know  your  brother.  The  knowledge  should 
answer  that  question.  He  has  sworn  loyalty  to 
Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  and  for  good  or  for  evil  he 
will  keep  his  vow.  We  must  wait  till  the  thing  is 
inevitable." 

"  And  I,"  she  murmured,  "  I,  too,  am  a  Reist,  and 
he  is  my  king." 

"You  are  the  first  lady  in  Theos,"  he  answered, 
"  and  you  will  not  be  content  to  bend  your  knee  day  by 
day  before  a  plebeian.  I  will  prove  to  you  that  I  am 
sincere.  If  the  King  seeks  your  hand  in  marriage,  I 
will  not  raise  a  little  finger  against  him.  But  we  will 
not  support  another  Tyrnaus  in  another  reign  of  folly. 
We  will  not  recognize  a  king  who  places  by  his  side 
upon  the  thronejhe  daughter  of  tradespeople." 

"  It  would  be  infamous,"  she  murmured. 

"  Dear  lady,"  he  said  softly,  "  try  to  forget  that  I  am 
a  Russian,  or  that  Russia  was  ever  your  fancied  enemy. 
An  independent  Theos  is  my  policy,  it  is  your  religion. 
Let  us  work  hand  in  hand." 

The  old  distrust  was  hard  to  smother.  She  gave  him 
the  tips  of  her  fingers. 

"  You  can  speak  with  me  again,"  she  said.  "  I 
make  no  promises.  I  will  watch."  S 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

UGHTRED,  with  a  deep  sigh  of  relief,  sank  into  an 
easy-chair,  and  mopped  his  forehead  in  most  unkingly 
fashion.  He  had  escaped  for  a  moment  into  the  royal 
ante-room. 

"  Nicholas,"  he  exclaimed,  "  if  I  am  to  be  preserved 
for  the  service  of  the  State  order  me  a  whisky-and- 
soda.  This  is  harder  work  than  our  ride  from  Castle 
Reist." 

Reist  touched  the  bell  and  smiled. 

"  It  is  not  yet  concluded,"  he  said.  "  I  have  many 
yet  upon  my  list  who  have  not  been  presented  to  your 
Majesty.  There  must  be  no  heartburnings  to-night. 
We  must  make  no  enemies." 

Ughtred  sat  up  with  a  sudden  sense  of  injury. 

"  Nicholas,"  he  demanded,  "  where  is  your  sister  ?  " 

Reist's  face  was  imperturbable. 

"  My  sister,"  he  said,  "  regretted  exceedingly  her  in- 
ability to  be  present.  She  will  pay  her  respects  to  your 
Majesty  later." 

The  King  frowned.     His  manner  was  impatient. 

"  It  is  now  that  I  require  her  help,"  he  said.  "  The 
Baroness  is  an  utter  impossibility.  Her  French  is  un- 
recognizable, she  remembers  no  one,  and  the  woman 
herself  with  her  dyed  hair  and  feathers  is  a  caricature. 
Your  sister  must  really  make  an  effort,  Reist.  She 
must  come  and  help  me  out." 

127 


128  THE  TRAITORS 

"I  will  see  that  your  Majesty's  wishes,"  Reist  an- 
swered quietly,  "  are  conveyed  to  her." 

The  King  eyed  him  keenly.  Reist  then  was  con- 
cealing something.  His  sister's  absence  was  not 
motiveless. 

"  On  reflection,"  he  said,  "  I  desire  to  emphasize  my 
wishes.  Your  sister's  absence  is  significant,  and  might 
possibly  be  commented  upon.  You  will  go  yourself  and 
fetch  her,  Nicholas.  Say  that  I  desire  her  immediate 
presence." 

"  Your  Majesty,"  Reist  protested,  "  my  sister  may 
have  to  make  her  toilette.  Her  immediate  return  with 
me  will  doubtless  be  impossible." 

"  The  Countess  will  use  her  own  discretion  as  to  the 
time  she  keeps  me  waiting,"  Ughtred  answered  coolly. 
"  I  have  told  you  that  I  shall  await  your  return." 

Reist  turned  away  with  immovable  face.  Ughtred 
remained  in  the  ante-room  alone.  He  lit  a  cigarette, 
and  took  a  pile  of  telegrams  from  the  table  by  his 
side.  Selecting  the  topmost  he  read  it  thoughtfully  to 
himself. 

"  My  best  wishes  to  you  and  for  the  welfare  of  your 
kingdom.  May  my  offering  remain  forever  an  orna- 
ment. May  peace  and  happiness  be  the  lot  of  your 
people  and  your  own. — SARA  VAN  DECHT." 

"  A  coronation  present  with  such  a  wish,"  he  said  to 
himself,  "  must  remain  an  enigma.  Enter." 

An  attendant  withdrew  the  curtain. 

"Captain  Hartzan,  of  the  Artillery,  desires  a  moment's 
audience  with  your  Majesty,"  the  servant  announced. 


THE  TRAITORS  129 

The  King  nodded. 

"  Let  him  be  shown  in." 

A  young  officer  bowed  low  as  he  passed  through  the 
curtains. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  announced, "  a  messenger  has 
arrived  at  the  barracks  from  the  English  firm  of  Vickers, 
Son,  and  Maxim.  He  is  in  charge  of  a  whole  battery 
of  Maxims  and  quick-firing  pom-poms,  and  awaits  in- 
structions as  to  their  delivery." 

"  I  know  nothing  of  them,"  the  King  answered.  "  I 
understood  that  the  firm  you  mention  had  declined  the 
orders  of  the  late  Government." 

"  It  is  true,  your  Majesty,"  the  officer  answered,  "  and 
in  consequence  we  have  scarcely  a  modern  gun  at  the 
barracks.  The  battery  which  has  arrived  here  was 
intended  for  the  Russian  Government,  but  was  pur- 
chased, the  person  in  charge  informs  me,  by  a  private 
individual  for  cash,  as  a  coronation  present  to  your 
Majesty." 

The  King  started. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  there  is  no  mistake  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  None,  your  Majesty,"  the  officer  answered.  "  The 
messenger  is  quite  explicit.  It  is  a  princely  gift. 
Colonel  Dartnoff  instructed  me  to  make  an  immediate 
report  to  your  Majesty." 

Ughtred  for  a  moment  was  puzzled. 

"  I  know  of  no  one,"  he  said  reflectively,  "  who 
could  make  such  a  present." 

The  young  officer  hesitated. 

"  The  artillery  man  in  charge,  your  Majesty,  claims 
to  have  seen  the  donor's  cheque.  It  was  a  draft  upon 


130  THE  TRAITORS 

Rothschilds,  drawn  by  an  American  of  the  name  of 
Van  Decht.^  ~ 

Ughtred  caught  up  the  telegram  by  his  side.  His 
eyes  were  suddenly  bright.  He  understood. 

"  You  will  inform  the  agent  in  charge,"  he  said,  "  that 
I  will  receive  him  to-morrow,  and  arrange  a  date  to 
inspect  the  battery." 

The  young  officer  bowed  respectfully,  and  withdrew. 
Reist  took  his  place.  The  King  eyed  him  sternly, 
for  at  first  it  seemed  to  him  that  so  prompt  a  return  was 
significant. 

"Well,  sir!" 

Reist  lifted  the  curtain.  Marie  stood  there  in  Court 
dress,  her  long  train  held  by  pages  in  the  Reist 
livery,  her  neck  and  arms  ablaze  with  jewels,  a  coronet 
of  pearls  upon  her  forehead.  She  was  a  little  pale,  and 
she  carried  herself  with  more  than  ordinary  dignity. 
The  King  rose,  and,  bowing  low,  raised  her  hands 
to  his  lips. 

"  You  are  very  welcome,  Countess  of  Reist,"  he  said, 
"  although  you  are  amongst  the  latest  of  those  who  have 
come  to  offer  their  good  wishes." 

"  I  have  come,"  she  answered,  "  in  obedience  to  your 
Majesty's  commands." 

"  Commands  !  "  He  smiled  good-humouredly.  "  It 
is  very  unkind  of  you,"  he  said,  "  to  have  thought  of 
deserting  me  on  such  a  day  as  this." 

"My  brother " 

"  Oh,  Nicholas  is  invaluable,"  the  King  declared, 
lightly.  "  He  can  tell  me  what  to  say  to  the  men,  but 
it  is  in  receiving  the  women  I  need  your  help." 


THE  TRAITORS  131 

"  The  Baroness  Kolashin  is  as  well  acquainted  with 
our  countrywomen  as  I,"  Marie  answered.  "  I  did  not 
doubt  but  that  her  aid  would  be  sufficient." 

"  The  Baroness,"  Ughtred  answered,  "  has  done  her 
best ;  but  another  hour  by  her  side  would  rob  me  of  the 
few  wits  I  have  left.  I  should  like  to  know  for  what 
special  sin  I  was  committed  to  her  charge." 

Marie  shrugged  her  shoulders  ever  so  slightly,  but  she 
did  not  smile. 

"  I  am  at  your  Majesty's  service,"  she  said. 

Ughtred  was  puzzled.  In  what  manner  had  he  of- 
fended her  ? 

"  If  my  message  seemed  to  you  peremptory,"  he  said, 
"  will  you  not  ascribe  it  to  my  desire  to  taste  the  full 
measure  of  my  powers  ?  I  know  nothing  of  the 
privileges  of  a  king  save  what  I  have  read  in  books. 
But  it  seems  to  me  that  included  amongst  them  must 
surely  be  the  privilege  of  choosing  one's  companions — 
and  one's  friends." 

"  Your  Majesty,"  Marie  answered,  "  may  find  that  a 
rash  assumption.  It  may  lead  to  disappointment. 
Friends  are  scarcely  to  be  made  in  a  day,  or  to  order. 
You  must  send  for  some  of  those  whom  you  have  left 
behind  in  England." 

He  looked  at  her,  curious  to  know  if  anything  lurked 
behind  those  words. 

"  Mine  has  not  been  the  sort  of  life,"  he  said,  quietly, 
"  which  leads  to  the  making  of  friendships.  I  have 
been  a  wanderer  always,  and  a  lonely  one.  I  had  hoped 
to  fill  the  empty  places — here." 

There  was  a  note  of  appeal  in  his  tone — dignified,  yet 


i32  THE  TRAITORS 

not  in  a  sense  without  pathos.  He  glanced  at  Nicholas, 
but  he  looked  first  at  Marie.  A  faint  touch  of  colour 
flushed  her  cheeks.  Her  manner  was  visibly  softened. 

"  I  trust  that  your  Majesty  may  not  be  disappointed," 
she  said.  And  her  eyes  fell  before  his  for  the  first  time. 

A  crash  of  music  reminded  them  of  those  who  still 
waited  to  bow  before  the  King.  So  they  passed  out 
into  the  great  ballroom,  and  mounting  the  dais,  Marie 
stood  on  the  King's  left  hand.  The  room  was  a  blaze 
of  light,  of  brilliant  uniforms  and  beautiful  dresses.  At 
ten  o'clock,  Reist  came  up  with  a  look  of  relief  upon 
his  face,  and  a  gleam  of  excitement  in  his  eyes. 

"  The  English  Minister  and  his  wife,  your  Majesty,"  he 
murmured.  "  It  is  excellent.  The  others  will  follow." 

The  news  spread.  A  little  flutter  of  joy  rippled 
through  the  room.  The  coming  of  this  dignified,  kindly 
old  man,  with  his  grey  hair  and  single  decoration,  was 
the  one  thing  needed.  Theos  had  taken  to  herself  a 
King,  asking  leave  of  no  one,  but  the  countenance  of 
some  at  least  of  the  Powers  was  a  vital  thing.  At  the 
informal  coronation,  rushed  through  by  Reist  and  his 
friends,  not  one  of  the  Ministers  had  been  present. 
DomilofF,  with  smooth  face  and  with  many  lying  regrets, 
had  presented  an  interdictory  note  from  Russia,  but 
owing  to  the  peculiar  conditions  prevailing  there  had  not 
been  until  after  the  coronation  any  properly-appointed 
person  to  receive  it.  The  late  foreign  Minister  had  re- 
fused it  with  a  smile  and  a  polite  word  of  regret,  and  his 
example  had  been  followed  by  every  member  of  the 
Royalist  party.  There  was,  they  explained,  at  the  mo- 
ment no  government,  no  officials,  no  Minister.  Their 


THE  TRAITORS  133 

various  appointments  were  arranged  for  and  would  be 
confirmed  immediately  after  the  coronation.  Until  then 
they  were  only  private  persons.  So  Domiloff,  with  a 
suave  jest  and  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders,  shut  himself  up 
in  his  house,  while  the  cathedral  bells  clashed  and  the 
cannon  roared  from  the  walls. 

The  English  Minister  was  followed  in  quick  succes- 
sion by  the  representatives  of  France  and  Austria,  and 
with  their  coming  a  certain  sense  of  restraint  passed 
away  from  the  brilliant  assemblage.  Before  there  had 
been  a  certain  sense  of  unreality  in  the  whole  thing. 
The  tone  of  the  rejoicings  had  been  feverish — who 
could  tell  but  that  in  a  week  this  thing  might  not  have 
passed  away  like  a  mirage.  Now  a  heartier  note  alto- 
gether prevailed,  especially  amongst  the  men.  There 
were  no  more  side  glances,  or  shrugged  shoulders — the 
volcano  no  longer  trembled  beneath  their  feet.  Dancing 
commenced,  and  the  King  stood  up  with  Marie  of  Reist. 
At  supper  she  remained  on  his  right  hand.  Many  peo- 
ple spoke  to  Reist  of  this. 

"  It  is  excellent,  Duke,"  declared  old  Baron  Kolashin, 
once  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army.  "Theos 
needs  no  outside  alliance.  It  means  only  entanglement. 
That,"  he  inclined  his  head  to  where  Marie  and  the 
King  were  talking,  "  will  send  Theos  crazy  with  joy." 

Reist  shook  his  head. 

"You  anticipate,  my  dear  Kolashin,"  he  answered. 
"  Our  Court  circle  is,  as  you  know,  small,  and  Marie's 
rank  entitles  her  to  receive.  But  this  is  only  their 
second  meeting.  I  am  sure  that  as  yet  no  such  idea  has 
entered  the  King's  head." 


i34  THE  TRAITORS 

Kolashin  twirled  his  fierce  moustache,  and  smiled 
knowingly. 

"  Eh,  but  my  friend,  there  is  a  report  that  they  have 
drunk  together  from  the  King's  cup.  How  about  that  ?  " 

"  It  is  true,"  Reist  admitted,  "  but  the  King  knows 
nothing  of  the  history  of  the  cup.  His  offer  was  one 
of  gallantry — no  more.  They  were  children  together." 

The  general  chuckled. 

"  Marie  is  a  beautiful  girl,"  he  said.  "  There  is  none 
like  her  in  Theos.  Eh,  but  if  I  were  young  again." 

He  went  off  smiling  to  himself. 

Reist  was  touched  on  the  arm  by  Brand. 

11  May  I  speak  to  you  for  a  moment,  Duke  ?  " 

11  By  all  means." 

"  There  is  still  one  of  the  foreign  Ministers  absent 
besides  DomilofF." 

Reist  nodded. 

"  Effenden  Pascha.     There  is  yet  time,  however." 

"  Effenden  Pascha  is  not  coming,"  Brand  said. 

Reist  eyed  him  sharply. 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  " 

"  I  was  at  the  palace  gates,"  Brand  answered,  "  when 
Effenden  Pascha  drove  up.  He  was  on  the  point  of  en- 
tering when  he  was  accosted  by  our  friend  Domiloff." 

Reist's  face  grew  black  as  night. 

"  The  hound  !  "  he  murmured.     "  Go  on  !  " 

"  They  stayed  talking  for  five  minutes  or  more. 
Eventually  they  both  rcentered  Effenden  Pascha's  car- 
riage and  were  driven  off." 

"  The  wolf  and  the  dog,"  Reist  cried,  fiercely.  "  Let 
them  beware  how  they  bark  at  the  gates  of  Theos." 


THE  TRAITORS  135 

He  was  white  almost  to  the  lips  with  anger.  Brand 
watched  him  curiously. 

"  I  do  not  believe  that  you  people  like  the  Turks,"  he 
remarked. 

Reist  turned  upon  him  with  a  sudden  violent  gesture. 
His  voice  was  low,  but  charged  with  passionate  hate. 

"  Like  them  !  To  us  they  are  as  vermin,  a  pest  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth.  You  wonder  why !  I  tell  you 
that  it  is  because  we  know  them,  because  their  border 
villages  are  in  touch  with  ours,  we  know  their  life  and 
the  manner  of  it.  I  could  tell  you  things  which  you 
dare  not  put  in  print ;  stones  which,  if  English  people 
read  in  your  paper  they  would  brand  you  a  liar.  So, 
my  friend,  Brand,  believe  this.  There  is  not  a  true 
Thetian  breathing  who  would  not  rather  die  himself  and 
kill  his  wife  and  children  than  that  the  Turks  should 
enter  Theos.  .  .  .  Pardon  me ! " 

He  moved  away  with  a  quick,  expressive  gesture. 
Brand  remained  in  his  corner,  and  presently  the  King 
with  Marie  of  Reist  upon  his  arm  passed  by.  They 
paused  before  him. 

"  Come,  Brand,"  LJghtred  remarked, "  why  so  thought- 
ful ?  You  must  dance,  my  friend." 

"  Your  Majesty,"  Brand  answered,  "  I  was  pondering 
upon  the  inequalities  of  life.  Yesterday  I  was  a  King, 
and  a  most  uncomfortable  position  it  was  !  To-day  you 
are  King — and  " — he  glanced  at  Marie — "  it  is  a  trial  to 
one's  disposition  to  refrain  from  envy." 

Marie  detached  her  hand  softly  from  the  King's  sleeve. 

"  So  gallant  a  speech,  sir,"  she  said,  smiling,  "  must 
be  rewarded.  You  have  not  yet  asked  me  to  dance  !  " 


CHAPTER  XIX 

"  IT  seems  to  me,"  she  said,  quietly,  "  that  all  men 
must  be  ambitious,  that  the  love  of  power  must  be  a 
part  of  their  very  existence." 

"  In  England,"  he  remarked,  "  we  are  more  circum- 
scribed, our  limits  are  more  exact.  Yet  I  suppose  in 
our  small  way  we  all  flutter  our  wings." 

"  I  have  a  curiosity  to  understand  things,"  she  said, 
leaning  back  and  fanning  herself  slowly.  "  Help  me  to 
understand  yourself." 

He  smiled. 

"  Do  I  puzzle  you  then  ?  " 

"  A  little— yes  !  " 

"  How  ?  " 

She  looked  at  him  reflectively  out  of  her  dark,  full 
eyes.  He  looked  into  them  once  and  turned  away — he 
scarcely  knew  why. 

"You  do  not  seem  to  me,"  she  said,  "like  a  man 
who  would  be  content  with  small  things.  You  out- 
witted DomilofF  himself.  Yet  you  call  yourself  ji  writer, 
and  you  are  perhaps  content  ?  " 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Why  not  ?  There  is  excitement  in  it.  One  travels 
everywhere,  meets  strange  types  of  people,  penetrates 
into  unknown  countries,  carries  often  one's  life  in  one's 
hands.  Oh,  it's  not  a  bad  life." 

"Perhaps,"  she  answered,  "I  do  not  quite  under- 
136 


THE  TRAITORS  137 

stand.  Our  newspapers  in  Theos  are  different.  You 
then  are  content  ?  " 

Again  that  curious  searching  gaze  from  the  most 
beautiful  eyes  into  which  he/had  ever  looked.  Brand, 
in  whose  life  women  had  played  a  small  part,  was  unac- 
countably ill  at  ease.  His  £asy  nonchalance  of  manner 
had  deserted  him.  Content';!  He  looked  for  a  moment 
into  his  future,  and  wasj  astonished  to  find  in  it  a  new 
emptiness.  She  bent  over  towards  him,  and  at  her  touch 
a  thrill  went  through  his  veins,  and  set  his  heart  beating 
to  a  new  music. 

"Just  now,"  she  murmured,  "you  told  the  King — 
that  you  envied  him.  Was  it  true  ?  " 

"  For  the  moment,"  he  answered, "  I  think  that  it  was." 

"  You  then  would  like  to  be  a  king  ?  " 

He  laughed,  and  answered  her  with  a  forced  lightness. 

"  I  ?     Not  I !     It  would  not  suit  me  at  all." 

"  What  did  you  mean,  then  ?  "  she  persisted. 

"  I  think,"  he  said,  "  that  I  was  a  little  lonely.  You 
see  I  know  none  of  these  people.  I  am  a  stranger,  and  I 
felt  a  little  out  of  my  element.  And  then — then  he  came 
by  with  you,  and — well,  I  wished  I  were  in  his  place." 

She  laughed  very  softly. 

"  So  far  as  I  am  concerned,"  she  murmured,  "  you 
very  soon  had  your  wish." 

"  It  was  very  kind  of  you,"  he  said,  "  to  take  pity 
upon  me." 

"I  think  that  I  wanted  to  talk  to  you  again,"  she 
said-  "  I  am  tired  of  all  these  people.  Tell  me,  Mr. 
Brand,  how  long  will  you  stay  on  in  Theos  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  sure,"  he  answered,  "  perhaps  a  week,  per- 


138  THE  TRAITORS 

haps  a  month.  It  depends  upon  my  paper.  They  may 
recall  me  at  any  time." 

She  frowned,  and  stopped  fanning  herself. 

"Why  do  you  go  back  ?  "  she  said,  abruptly.  "Why 
do  you  not  stay  in  Theos  ?  " 

"  There  is  no  place  here  for  me,"  he  answered.  "  I 
am  a  stranger." 

"  You  say,"  she  continued,  "  that  in  your  own  country 
the  limits  of  life  are  being  drawn  closer.  Why  do  you 
not  make  for  yourself  a  career  in  a  country  like  this  ? 
Theos  has  need  of  such  men  as  you." 

He  shook  his  head. 

"Theos  has  her  own  sons  to  direct  her  future.  I 
am  a  stranger." 

"  So  is  the  King  !  " 

"  But  he  is  a  Tyrnaus.  The  people  have  chosen  him 
for  their  King." 

"  You  are  his  friend,"  she  said,  "  and  to  you  I  may 
not  say  very  much.  But  he  is  young,  andjie  may  make 
mistakes.  He  comes  of  a  family  who  have  done  much 
evil  here." 

Brand  was  startled. 

"  I  thought  that  you  and  your  brother  were  his  chief 
supporters,"  he  said.  "  People  are  saying,  too " 

Her  fan  stopped.     Brand  hesitated. 

"  Please  to  go  on,"  she  said,  imperiously. 

"  It  is  not  my  affair,"  he  continued,  awkwardly.  "  I 
ought  not  to  have  alluded  to  it.  But  they  are  speaking 
of  the  possibilities  of  a  marriage  between  you  and  him." 

The  slow  waving  of  white  feathers  recommenced. 
He  felt  that  she  was  looking  at  him ;  almost  in  spite  of 


THE  TRAITORS  139 

himself  their  eyes  met.  He  looked  away  with  hot 
cheeks  and  burning  eyes.  Was__this  girl  a  trained 
cpjjuette,  or 

"  I  do  not  think,"  she  said,  "  that  you  need  consider 
that.  I  do  not  think  that  I  shall  ever  marry  Ughtred 
of  Tyrnaus." 

Despite  himself  he  spoke  the  thoughts  which  had 
filled  his  mind. 

"  You,"  he  said,  "  are  ambitious.  Have  you  no  desire 
to  be  a  queen  ?  " 

"  I  love  power,"  she  answered,  "  but  I  am  a  woman 
— and  I  do  not  wish  to  marry  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus." 

Brand  told  himself  fiercely  that  he  was  a  fool.  Yet 
the  music  was  suddenly  sweeter,  his  vague  antipathy  to 
the  King  had  vanished  into  thin  air,  the  taste  of  life  was 
sweeter  between  his  teeth. 

"  You  may  think  me  mad,"  he  said,  "  but  I  am — not 
sorry — to  hear  it." 

There  was  a  short  silence.  It  was  evident  that  if  she 
thought  him  mad  she  was  not  displeased. 

"  Some  day,"  she  said,  presently,  "  I  should  like  to 
talk  to  you  of  Theos.  I  believe  that  before  long  there 
will  be  great  changes  here.  A  new  order  of  things  may 
come — and  you  are  one  of  those  whom  Theos  may  look 
to  for  help." 

"  I  ?  "  he  repeated.  "  But,  indeed,  Countess,  you  are 
overrating  me.  I  am  only  a  journalist.  I  know  nothing 
of  statecraft." 

u  You  are  a  strong  man,"  she  answered,  "  and  strong 
men  are  scarce.  Promise  me  that  you  will  not  leave 
Theos  without  letting  me  know." 


140  THE  TRAITORS 

"  I  am  not  likely  to  do  that,"  he  said.  "  If  ever  I  can 
help  you  or  your  country  I  would  do  it  willingly.  But 
you  will  remember  that  I  am  the  friend  of  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus." 

"  You  may  have  other  friends — is  it  not  so  ?  " 

The  significance  of  her  speech  once  more  filled  him 
with  new  emotions — half-delightful — half-uneasy.  A 
sudden  passionate  impulse  came  to  him  to  seize  the 
little  white  hand  all  ablaze  with  jewels  which  hung  over 
the  arm  of  her  chair  so  near  to  his.  He  mastered  it  with 
a  stupendous  effort.  They  sat  there  in  a  silence  which 
was  to  him  almost  ecstatic.  Then  Nicholas  of  Reist 
stood  suddenly  before  them,  his  black  eyebrows  con- 
tracted into  a  lowering  frown. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  "  the  King  is  asking  for  you." 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders,  and  rose  without  haste. 

"  I  think,"  she  said,  "  that  I  have  done  my  duty — and 
I  am  tired.  I  should  like  to  go  home,  Nicholas." 

"  You  must  make  your  adieux,  in  any  case,"  he 
answered,  giving  her  his  arm,  and  ignoring  Brand. 
"  No  one  is  leaving  yet,  and  there  is  to  be  a  display  of 
fire-works  in  the  grounds." 

She  looked  over  her  shoulder  to  Brand  with  a  parting 
smile. 

"  Good-night,  Mr.  Brand.  I  have  enjoyed  my  rest 
very  much." 

He  bowed  low,  and  remained  for  a  moment  alone  in 
the  Palm  House.  Through  the  open  windows  came  the 
sound  of  ascending  rockets  hissing  through  the  still 
night  air — the  grounds  were  ablaze  with  lights.  He 
passed  out,  and  mingled  with  the  crowd  of  people.  ^ 


CHAPTER  XX 

ILLUMINATIONS,  fireworks,  and  the  thunder  of  salut- 
ing cannon  closed  the  day.  The  excited  crowds  dis- 
persed slowly  to  their  homes,  the  National  Hymn  ceased 
at  last  to  echo  through  the  squares  and  streets.  To- 
wards midnight  Domiloff,  who  had  left  the  palace  early, 
knocked  at  the  door  of  a  large  white  house  in  the  Place 
des  Estrangers,  and  was  at  once  admitted.  He  passed 
into  a  hall  furnished  after  the  Turkish  style,  and  into  the 
presence  of  Effenden  Pascha. 

The  Turk  was  still  in  the  uniform  and  jewelled  turban 
which  he  had  donned  for  the  reception  at  the  palace.  He 
greeted  Domiloff  eagerly.  They  conversed  in  French. 

"  It  is  well  that  you  have  come,"  the  Turk  exclaimed. 
"  To-morrow  it  will  be  known  in  Constantinople  that 
you  and  I  alone  of  the  foreign  Ministers  failed  to  attend 
the  reception  of  the  new  King.  How  am  I  to  explain 
this,  Domiloff?" 

Domiloff  nodded,  and  lit  a  cigarette. 

"  Listen,  Effenden  Pascha,"  he  said,  quietly.  "  I 
have  within  the  last  few  minutes  received  a  message  from 
St.  Petersburg  ordering  me  to  recognize  on  behalf  of 
Russia,  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus.  It  does  not  suit  my 
country  just  at  present  to  be  at  variance  with  the  other 
Powers.  Accordingly  I  must  present  myself  at  the 
palace  to-morrow.  You,  however,  are  outside  the  con- 
cert. Now,  listen.  I  speak  truth,  do  I  not,  when  I  say 

141 


i42  THE  TRAITORS 

that  the  ancient  enmity  between  your  country  and  Theos 
is  still  a  live  thing — that  but  for  the  Powers  your  soldiers 
would  long  ago  have  pillaged  Theos,  and  sacked  the  city  ?  " 

"  It  is  true,"  Effenden  Pascha  admitted.  "  What 
then  ?  " 

"  The  accession  of  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  is  not  approved 
of  by  my  master.  As  I  have  explained,  we  cannot  move 
ourselves,  for  the  time  is  not  yet  ripe  for  a  European 
war.  This,  however,  we  can  undertake.  Ifjour  master 
should  refuse  to  recognize  the  new  sovereign  of  Theos, 
and  should  think  the  time  ripe  for  an  effort  to  regain 
what  was  once  a  part  of  the  Ottoman  Empire,  there  shall 
be  no  interference.  Russia  will  not  interfere,  and  Russia 
will  see  that  no  other  Power  does.  You  follow  me  ?  " 

"Perfectly,"  Effenden  Pascha  answered,  quietly; 
"  and  afterwards  ?  " 

"  The  afterwards,"  Domiloff  remarked,  with  a  shrug 
of  the  shoulders,  "  is  of  your  own  making." 

The  Turk  shook  his  head  slowly. 

"  Domiloff,"  he  said,  "  so  far  all  is  well.  But  your 
price  ?  Your  master  serves  no  one  without  a  price. 
Wherein  is  to  come  your  advantage  ?  " 

"  We  have  none  to  gain,"  Domiloff  answered. 
"  Simply  we  object  to  a  Tyrnaus  once  more  upon  the 
throne  of  Theos." 

The  Turk  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  There  is  still  time,"  he  said.  "  I  go  to  pay  my  re- 
spects to  King  Ughtred." 

"  You  are  too  late,"  Domiloff  cried. 

"  Not  so,"  the  Turk  answered,  pointing  through  the 
trees.  "  The  palace  is  still  a  blaze  of  light." 


THE  TRAITORS  143 

Domiloff  swore  softly  between  his  teeth. 

"  Do  not  be  so  hasty,  my  friend,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  My  country."  Effenden  Pascha  answered,  "  is  too 

*-••*— __/_*       n .  -    „•    •  ,..»•  _L>ini_L     -.-|_jiu 

often  the  tool  of  yours.  We  are  to  do  the  work,  and  at 
the  last  moment — the  Bear's  paw.  We  are  to  conquer 
Theos  for  Russia." 

"  You  are  entirely  wrong,"  Domiloff  declared 
earnestly.  "  The  eventual  possession  of  the  country 
may  become  a  matter  of  private  treaty  between  your 
Court  and  mine,  but  I  will  give  you  the  word  of  the 
Czar  that  if  for  any  reason  we  should  desire  to  occupy 
it  you  shall  have  a  quid  pro  quo.  You  shall  have  a  free 
hand  in  Asia  Minor  and  a  loan." 

"  You  will  give  me  pledges  of  this  nature  in  writing  ? " 
Effenden  Pascha  asked. 

"  Certainly !  " 

The  Turk  walked  to  the  window  with  a  smile. 

"Allah!"  he  exclaimed.  "It  will  be  good  to  hear 
once  more  the  guns  roar  in  the  Balkans.  We  Turks,, 
Domiloff,  are  a  nation  of  soldiers^a.nd  these  long  inter- 
vals of  peace  are  ill  for  us." 

Outside  there  was  a  sudden  tramp  of  feet.  Into  the 
square  filed  a  company  of  soldiers.  They  halted  in 
front  of  the  house.  The  two  men  exchanged  rapid 
glances. 

"  What  is  this  ?  "  the  Turk  asked,  quickly. 

"  Heaven  knows,"  Domiloff  answered.     "  Listen  !  " 

A  thunderous  summons  at  the  door ;  voices  in  the 
hall.  An  officer  in  the  uniform  of  the  Thetian  Guards 
entered,  bearing  a  letter. 

"  To  Monsieur  Domiloff,"  he  announced,  saluting. 


144  THE  TRAITORS 

Domiloff  opened  it  without  a  word.  As  he  read  he 
grew  pale  to  the  lips. 

"  SIR, — I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  your  passport  and 
safe  conduct  to  the  frontier  of  Theos.  I  have  informed 
the  Czar,  your  Imperial  master,  of  the  circumstances 
which  render  your  further  presence  in  my  dominions 
displeasing  to  me. 

(Signed)  "  UGHTRED  OF  TYRNAUS, 

"REX." 

DomilofF  crushed  the  letter  in  his  fingers. 

"  Well,  sir  ?  "  he  said  to  the  officer.  "  In  the  morn- 
ing I  will  seek  an  audience  of  his  Majesty." 

"  I  regret,  sir,"  the  officer  answered,  "  that  my  orders 
allow  me  no  latitude  whatever.  A  special  train  is 
waiting,  and  my  instructions  are  to  escort  you  to  the 
frontier." 

DomilofF  drew  the  Turk  on  one  side. 

"  Listen,"  he  said,  "  this  is  a  bold  stroke.  I  half 
expected  it.  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  has  courage  at  least. 
I  go  straight  to  St.  Petersburg.  I  will  give  pledges  of 
what  I  have  promised  to  your  Minister  there." 

EfFenden  Pascha  bowed.  He  was  most  uncomfort- 
able, but  there  was  a  certain  pleasure  in  witnessing  the 
discomfiture  of  the  wily  Russian. 

"  I  shall  await  your  news,"  he  answered. 

DomilofF  and  his  escort  departed.  EfFenden  Pascha 
at  once  undressed,  sent  for  his  physician  and  sought  his 
bed.  Before  morning  Theos  knew  of  the  sudden  attack 
of  malignant  fever  which  had  most  unfortunately  laid 
hold  of  him  at  the  moment  of  starting  to  attend  the  re- 
ception at  the  palace. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

UGHTRED  slackened  his  reins  about  his  horse's  neck, 
and  turning  round,  called  to  Brand,  who  was  sitting  a 
few  yards  away  making  some  rapid  sketches.  The 
King's  cheeks  were  flushed  with  colour,  and  his  eyes 
were  bright. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that,  Brand  ? "  he  asked, 
proudly. 

He  pointed  to  where  a  cloud  of  dust  hung  round  the 
last  company  of  galloping  Thetians.  The  roll  of  the 
drums  and  the  shrill  music  of  the  fifes  still  reached  them. 

"  They  are  born  horsemen,  and  born  soldiers,  your 
Majesty,"  Brand  answered,  with  enthusiasm.  "  I  only 
wish  that  there  were  more  of  them." 

Ughtred  smiled. 

"  The  mountains  are  our  chief  protection,"  he  said, 
with  a  little  wave  of  his  arm.  "  The  passes  through 
which  men  could  be  poured  into  Theos  are  narrowband 
for  defensive  purposes  a  small,  perfectly-trained  army  is 
sometimes  as  useful  as  a  large  one.  I  am  proud  of  my 
army,  Brand." 

"  You  have  reason,"  Brand  answered.  "  I  am  even 
now  trying  to  make  Europe  understand  what  manner  of 
men  these  are." 

General  Dartnoff  came  galloping  up. 

"If  your  Majesty  will  ride  now  to  Pinter's  Pass,"  he 
said,  "  you  will  be  able  to  trace  the  progress  of  the  attack." 

145 


146  THE  TRAITORS 

The  King  and  Brand  rode  off  together,  followed  by 
his  small  bodyguard. 

"  Your  people  have  said  nothing  yet  about  recalling 
you  ?  "  Ughtred  asked. 

"  Nothing,"  Brand  answered.  "  I  think  that  Theos 
is  still  being  watched  with  interest." 

"  And  you  yourself  ?  " 

Brand  looked  straight  ahead. 

"  I  am  content  here,"  he  answered.  "  I  shall  be  sorry 
to  leave." 

There  was  the  thunder  of  hoofs  on  the  turf  a  short 
distance  away,  and  Marie  of  Reist  in  a  white  riding- 
habit  and  the  military  cap  of  the  Thetian  Guards  gal- 
loped past.  Her  lithe,  superb  figure  was  at  its  best — she 
managed  her  charger  with  the  easy  confidence  of  a  born 
horsewoman.  Ughtred  eyed  her  thoughtfully. 

"  There  are  not  many  women  like  that — even  in 
England,  Brand,"  he  remarked. 

"Your  Majesty  is  quite  right,"  Brand  answered. 
"  The  Countess  of  Reist  is  the  most  beautiful  woman 
whom  I  have  ever  seen." 

Ughtred  smiled  and  looked  down  into  the  valley. 
They  reined  in  their  horses  upon  a  small  knoll. 

"  I  think  that  I  know  one  who  is  more  beautiful,"  the 
King  said,  in  an  undertone.  "  I  heard  this  morning 
from  our  friends,  the  Van  Dechts,  Brand.  They  are 
travelling  in  Italy,  and  may  come  on  here." 

Brand  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Your  Majesty  will  find  their  presence  welcome  ?  " 
he  asked. 

The  King  looked  at  him  in  surprise. 


THE  TRAITORS  147 

"  Surely  !  They  are  friends  of  mine.  It  would  give 
me  great  pleasure  to  have  them  here.  Why  not  ?  " 

Brand  hesitated. 

"  I  wondered,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  if  they  might  not 
find  their  presence  here  a  little  equivocal.  Your  Maj- 
esty is  no  longer  a  private  individual,  and  Mr.  and  Miss 
Van  Decht,  however  agreeable  in  themselves,  are  not  of 
the  rank  which  entitles  them  to  a  familiar  footing  at 
your  Court." 

Ughtred  looked  at  his  companion  in  some  surprise. 

"  That  speech,"  he  remarked,  "  might  have  come 
from  Nicholas  of  Reist — from  you,  my  friend,  it  sounds 
strangely." 

"  I  admit  it,"  Brand  answered.  "  For  myself  it  is 
true  that  I  am  a  democrat,  but  then  I  am  only  a  jour- 
nalist. I  have  noticed  that  the  few  nobles  who  remain 
in  Theos  are  aristocrats  to  the  backbone.  I  believe  that 
you  find  their  principles  absolutely  rock-bound." 

The  King  frowned.  His  eyes  had  rested  upon  Marie 
of  Reist,  sitting  upright  in  her  saddle,  and  watching 
eagerly  for  the  development  of  the  sham  fight. 

"  Well,  well,"  he  said,  "  we  shall  see  !  I  wish  to  see 
the  Van  Dechts  here,  and  it  is  useless  to  meet  trouble 
halfway.  Be  so  good,  Brand,  as  to  convey  my  regards 
to  the  Countess  of  Reist,  and  suggest  that  she  join  us. 
Our  position  is  better  chosen  than  hers." 

Brand  cantered  over  to  her  side  and  repeated  the 
message.  She  rode  with  him  towards  the  King. 

"You  have  been  much  occupied  lately,  perhaps,"  she 
said  to  Brand.  "  My  brother  tells  me  that  you  have 
been  invisible." 


148  THE  TRAITORS 

"  I  have  been  busy,"  he  answered.  "  Perhaps  because 
of  my  small  share  in  events  here.  I  have  become 
wonderfully  interested  in  Theos.  I  have  been  making 
excursions  in  all  directions.  I  want  to  understand  many 
things  which  are  hard  for  a  stranger  to  form  a  right 
idea  of." 

She  smiled. 

"  Then  why  do  you  not  come  to  me  ?  "  she  said.  "  I 
can  tell  you  very  much  about  Theos.  I  can  tell  you 
about  the  country  people,  and  how  they  live.  Did  I  not 
ask  you  to  come,  Mr.  Brand  ?  You  are  very  ungallant." 

He  met  a  glance  from  her  dark  eyes,  and  his  pale 
cheeks  were  suddenly  flushed. 

"  You  were  good  enough  to  say  that  you  would  re- 
ceive me,"  he  answered.  "  If  I  may  come,  then,  I  will." 

"  My  brother  has  shown  me  in  the  English  papers 
some  of  the  things  which  you  have  written  about 
Theos,"  she  continued.  "  I  cannot  tell  you  what  pleas- 
ure they  gave  me.  It  is  a  wonderful  gift,  yours,  Mr. 
Brand.  When  one  reads  one  seems  to  see  a  picture  of 
the  whole  place.  You  have  written  wonderfully  of  your 
adventures  here." 

"  And  yet,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "  the  adventure 
here  which  was  most  interesting  to  me,  which  I  shall 
never  forget  so  long  as  I  live,  I  have  not  written  about 
at  all.  It  is  for  the  memory  only." 

Again  their  eyes  met.  He  was  very  bold,  this  Eng- 
lishman. Yet  though  her  eyebrows  were  slightly  raised 
she  did  not  rebuke  him. 

"  I  think,  perhaps,"  she  said,  "  that  we  had  better 
obey  the  royal  command." 


THE  TRAITORS  149 

She  touched  her  horse  with  the  whip,  and  they  gal- 
loped up  the  hillside.  Ughtred  watched  them  closely  as 
they  rode  up.  He  made  room  for  Marie  by  his  side. 
Brand  had  perforce  to  fall  behind.  They  talked  to- 
gether eagerly  of  the  manoeuvres.  The  girl  was  thor- 
oughly well  versed  in  the  situation. 

"  I  believe  from  the  south,"  she  said,  "  that  Theos  is 
unassailable.  If  only  we  had  more  heavy  guns  for  the 
passes." 

"  You  have  seen  the  new  battery  ?  "  Ughtred  asked. 

She  nodded. 

"  Yes.     The  Maxims  are  wonderful." 

"  I  am  expecting,"  he  said,  "  that  the  donor  will  be 
paying  us  a  visit  here  soon." 

She  looked  up  inquiringly. 

"  An  American  was  it  not  ? " 

"  An  American  and  his  daughter,  Mr.  and  Miss  Van 
Decht.  If  they  come  I  hope  that  I  may  count  upon 
you,  Countess,  to  help  me  make  their  visit  an  enjoyable 
one." 

"  I  will  do  all  that  I  can,"  she  answered,  coldly.  "  I 
have  never  met  any  Americans.  They  must  be  won- 
derful people.  In  England  they  are  intermarrying,  is  it 
not  so,  with  the  aristocracy  ?  " 

"  There  have  been  many  such  marriages,"  Ughtred 
assented. 

"  It  is  the  worst  of  England,"  she  murmured.  "  A 
great  nation,  but  indeed  a  nation  of  shopkeepers. 
Amongst  the  nobles,  the  pride  of  race  seems  to  have 
died  out.  The  fear  of  poverty  is  to  them  as  the  fear  of 
death.  Ah,  see." 


i5o  THE  TRAITORS 

Through  the  pass  below  was  a  sudden  movement. 
Little  puffs  of  smoke  burst  out  all  over  the  hillside. 
General  Dartnoff  and  his  staff  came  galloping  up. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  saluting,  "  I  shall  ask  for 
your  congratulations  on  behalf  of  Colonel  Bushnieff. 
The  attacking  force  have  been  entrapped  into  the  pass, 
and  are  now  subject  to  a  terrible  cross-fire.  Bushnieff's 
guns  are  so  placed  that  every  one  of  them  is  effectual. 
I  go  to  give  the  award.  The  defending  force  have 
easily  triumphed." 

"  I  will  come  with  you,"  the  King  answered. 

Brand  drew  back  to  let  them  pass.  Marie  also  lin- 
gered. In  a  moment  they  were  alone.  He  turned 
to  her. 

"  You  are  coming  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  think  not.  I  am  tired.  My  servants  are  below. 
I  shall  return  to  Theos." 

Brand  hesitated. 

"  My  horse  is  lame,"  he  remarked. 

"  I  do  not  wonder  at  it,"  she  answered.  "  You  have 
been  galloping  about  without  choosing  your  way." 

"  I  too  am  tired,"  he  continued,  thoughtfully. 

Her  lips  parted. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  of  your  escort,  Mr.  Brand." 

They  rode  slowly  across  the  open  country  in  the 
waning  day.  Before  them  on  the  hilltop  were  the  grey 
towers  and  the  piled-up  houses  of  Theos,  a  picturesque 
medley  with  their  red  roofs  and  white  fronts  now  fast 
becoming  blurred  in  the  gathering  twilight.  As  they 
neared  the  road  a  sudden  waft  of  perfume  from  the 
lavender-fields  beyond  filled  the  air,  and  a  breath  of 


THE  TRAITORS  151 

wind  came  sweeping  through  the  yellow  corn-fields. 
Brand,  with  his  hat  in  his  hand,  looked  thoughtfully 
about  him. 

"  I  think,"  he  said,  "  that  no  man  could  be  born  here 
who  would  not  die  for  such  a  country  as  this.  I  believe 
that  I  am  beginning  to  understand  what  patriotism 
might  be." 

Her  face  lit  up  in  a  moment. 

"  It  is  beautiful,"  she  said,  "  to  hear  you  say  that.  I 
wish,  Mr.  Brand,"  she  added,  softly,  "  that  it  were  your 
country  too.  Then  we  should  be  sure  of  one  good 
patriot." 

"  I  think,"  he  said,  "  that  if  trouble  came  to  Theos  I 
should  be  proud  to  reckon  myself  amongst  her  sons. 
I  have  never  seen  country  people  like  yours.  I  have 
ridden  into  the  furthest  parts,  and  wherever  I  have  seen 
men  and  women  I  have  heard  singing.  I  have  been 
greeted  like  a  friend.  I  have  been  offered  bread  and 
wine  before  I  could  even  dismount.  How  they  toil,  too. 
No  wonder  the  soil  is  fruitful." 

"  Oh,  it  is  good  to  hear  you  talk  like  this,"  she  cried, 
with  a  sudden  little  burst  of  passion.  "  The  love  of  my 
country  is  in  my  blood — it  is  part  of  me.  I  could  not 
live  if  Theos  were  dishonoured,  and  lately  there  have 
been  so  many  sorrows.  I  seem  to  have  found  myself 
listening,  and  over  the  land  there  has  been  silence,  no 
longer  the  whistling  of  the  men  and  the  singing  of 
women.  It  has  been  as  though  something  terrible  has 
always  been  about  to  happen.  It  is  a  fancy,  of  course. 
Nicholas  laughs  at  me.  It  is  foolish  !  But  the  love  of 
Theos  is  more  to  me  than  the  love  of  life.  I  fear  for 


i52  THE  TRAITORS 

her  when  for  myself  I  have  no  fear.  Tell  me,  Mr. 
Brand,  this  seems  strange  talk  to  you." 

"  I  know  Theos,  and  I  know  you,"  he  answered.  "  I 
understand." 

She  did  not  speak  again  for  some  time,  but  he  saw 
that  her  eyes  were  full  of  tears,  and  he  kept  his  face 
turned  from  her.  When  at  last  they  passed  into  the 
city  she  spoke  to  him  softly. 

"  I  am  indeed  very  foolish,"  she  said,  "  but  just  now 
I  am  anxious.  Theos  seems  to  have  made  for  herself 
new  enemies.  The  coming  of  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  has 
provoked  Russia,  and  it  is  the  one  country  which  I  fear 
most.  You  will  come  and  see  me  soon,  Mr.  Brand  ?  " 

He  bowed  over  the  hand  which  she  held  half-shyly 
out.  It  was  not  a  form  of  greeting  in  which  she  often 
indulged. 

"  I  will  surely  come,"  he  answered. 

He  left  her  at  the  Reist  house  and  rode  slowly 
towards  his  own  quarters.  Already  the  streets  were 
lined  with  people  awaiting  the  return  of  the  King 
and  the  troops.  Torches  were  waved  hither  and  thither. 
In  the  open  space  in  front  of  the  palace  a  huge  bonfire 
had  been  lit.  Everywhere  was  the  pleasant  murmur 
of  cheerful  voices.  Further  down  the  street  they  were 
singing  in  a  low  rhythmical  chant  the  National  Anthem. 
Now  the  King  was  in  sight,  and  a  roar  of  voices  wel- 
comed him.  The  front  of  the  palace  blazed  out  in 
a  fire  of  illuminations,  a  shower  of  rockets  shrieked 
upwards  from  the  park.  The  King  was  coming.  Long 
live  the  King  ! 


CHAPTER  XXII 

SARA  VAN  DECHT  leaned  back  in  her  basket-chair 
and  looked  across  the  cobbled  street,  across  the  trim 
square  where  the  miniature  fountain  was  playing,  to 
where  a  cluster  of  red-roofed,  white-fronted  houses  were 
huddled  together  in  picturesque  confusion. 

"  Well,  I  think  it's  delightful !  "  she  exclaimed.  «  I 
never  could  have  imagined  anything  so  picturesque — 
or  so  restful." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  scratched  his  chin  thoughtfully  and 
selected  a  cigar  from  his  case. 

"  It  is  restful,"  he  admitted.  "  I  can't  say  that  I'm 
quite  accustomed  to  taking  my  meals  upon  the  pave- 
ment, even  under  an  awning,  and  there  is  an  odour  of 
garlic  about  the  hotel  which  I  don't  altogether  relish. 
I  grant  you  that  it  is  restful,  though !  There's  no 
denying  that !  " 

The  girl  laughed  softly. 

"  Poor  old  dad,"  she  exclaimed.  "  I  guess  it's  selfish 
of  me  to  drag  you  all  across  Europe  to  this  little  bit  of 
a  country,  but  I  couldn't  help  it  a  bit.  I  positively 
must  see  Ughtred  with  a  crown  on  his  head  and  a 
sceptre  in  his  hand  before  we  go  back.  It's  too  delicious. 
Now  I  wonder  how  we  ought  to  let  him  know  that  we 
are  here." 

"  Telephone ! " 

J53 


154  THE  TRAITORS 

She  laughed  again — laughed  till  the  tears  stood  in  her 
eyes. 

"  Father,  you  must  try  to  be  more  mediaeval,"  she 
exclaimed.  "  Fancy  ringing  up  a  king  !  " 

"  Send  a  boy  round  with  a  note  then,"  he  suggested, 
"  or  shall  I  stroll  round  to  the  palace  and  let  them 
know  ?  I'd  just  as  soon.  It's  only  a  few  minutes' 
walk." 

"  I  will  write,"  she  decided,  "  but  there  is  no  hurry. 
We  will  go  out  for  a  walk  presently  and  look  at  these 
dear,  quaint  little  shops.  There  are  heaps  of  things  I 
want  to  buy." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  rose  suddenly  from  his  chair. 

"  Jehosophat !  "  he  cried.     «  What's  that  ?  " 

It  was  a  horse-car,  old-fashioned,  rickety,  with  can- 
vas awnings,  drawn  wearily  along  by  an  aged  horse. 
Mr.  Van  Decht  eyed  it  with  vast  curiosity. 

"Jehosophat,"  he  repeated.  "I'd  like  to  take  that 
whole  affair  right  back  with  us  and  sell  it  to  the  first 
dime  museum  that'd  give  the  price.  Look  at  the  bon- 
net on  the  horse's  head,  Sara,  and  the  bell !  My,  how 
she  bumps !  I  must  have  a  talk  with  your  King, 
Sara.  My  number-three  installation  is  what  is  wanted 
here  with  overhead  wires  and  forty  Cambridge  wagons. 
With  cheap  labour  and  water  transport  I  guess  it  would 
be  a  light  contract.  I'm  going  to  board  the  next  that 
comes  along,  Sara,  and  get  the  thing  into  my  head." 

"  The  streets  look  very  narrow  and  hilly  for  cars, 
father." 

"  Guess  the  whole  place  wants  straightening  out  a 
bit,"  Mr.  Van  Decht  admitted.  "If  your  King  wants 


THE  TRAITORS  155 

to  make  this  place  go,  Sara,  he's  got  to  imbibe  a  few 
Western  notions,  and  the  sooner  the  better." 

"  You  shall  talk  to  him,"  Sara  remarked,  with  a  little 
smile  at  the  corner  of  her  lips.  "  I  am  sure  that  he  will 
be  interested." 

"  I  guess  I  can  give  him  some  ideas,"  Mr.  Van 
Decht  remarked,  puffing  vigorously  at  his  cigar.  "  You'd 
better  write  that  note,  Sara." 

"  In  a  moment,  father.  It's  so  fascinating  to  watch 
these  country  people  with  their  baskets.  Look  !  There 
is  something  you  can't  beat  in  New  York,  anyhow." 

Up  the  steep,  narrow  road  came  a  company  of  horse- 
soldiers — a  gay  sight — in  flashing  helmets,  plumes,  and 
the  soft  blue  uniform  of  the  Thetian  Guards.  A  band 
up  at  the  palace  played  them  in.  The  people  rushed  to 
the  right  and  to  the  left,  lined  the  pavements  and  shouted 
a  greeting.  Then  suddenly  every  head  was  uncovered, 
and  a  little  respectful  murmur  rippled  through  the  crowd. 

"  The  King  !     Long  live  the  King  !  " 

Sara  rose  eagerly  from  her  place  at  the  table.  They 
were  virtually  upon  the  pavement — a  little  extended 
near  the  hotel  and  dotted  about  with  tiny  round  tables. 
It  was  Ughtred  who  rode  at  the  head  of  the  little  troop 
of  soldiers,  and  suddenly  their  eyes  met.  A  sharp  word 
of  command  broke  from  his  lips.  He  dismounted  and 
crossed  the  street  towards  them,  drawing  off  his  heavy 
white  gloves  as  he  came. 

"  Welcome  !  "  he  cried.     "Welcome  to  Theos." 

He  took  Sara's  hands  in  his  and  held  them  tightly. 

"  This,"  he  said,  "  is  charming  of  you.  One  mo- 
ment ! " 


156  THE  TRAITORS 

He  beckoned  to  the  officer  who  had  been  riding  by 
his  side,  and  gave  a  few  brief  orders.  The  troop  passed 
on.  Reist  and  a  younger  man  in  dark  riding-clothes  re- 
mained. 

"  If  you  will  allow  me,"  Ughtred  said,  "  I  will  take 
a  cup  of  coffee  with  you.  There  is  a  garden  here,  I  be- 
lieve." 

The  hotel  proprietor  came  hurrying  out.  Reist  ex- 
plained what  was  required.  They  made  their  way  into 
a  semi-public  garden,  which  was  instantly  cleared  of 
chance  loiterers.  A  table  was  set  in  a  shady  corner. 

"  Mr.  Van  Decht,"  Ughtred  said,  "  I  must  shake 
hands  with  you.  You  are  most  welcome.  I  appreciate 
your  coming  here  immensely." 

u  My  daughter,"  Mr.  Van  Decht  explained,  "  has 
been  set  upon  this  trip  ever  since  your  friend  Brand  be- 
gan his  letters  upon  Theos  in  the  Daily  Courier.  They 
have  been  very  widely  read,  sir.  We  must  congratu- 
late you  upon  having  taken  hold  of  your  kingdom  so 
firmly." 

"  You  are  very  good,"  Ughtred  answered.  "  Brand 
has  been  a  God-send  to  us.  The  position  here  has  been 
fairly  represented  to  England,  and,  in  fact,  Europe, 
through  his  reports.  He,  too,  will  be  delighted  to  see 
you  again.  Miss  Van  Decht,  you  must  allow  me  to 
present  Captain  Hartzan  of  the  Artillery — the  Duke 
of  Reist  you  already  know.  Now,  when  did  you 
arrive  ?  " 

"  Last  night,"  Sara  answered.  "  That  dear  little  train 
of  yours  brought  us  from  the  frontier.  We  scarcely 
expected  to  see  you  so  soon." 


THE  TRAITORS  157 

"  It  is  my  great  good-fortune,"  Ughtred  answered. 
"  I  go  every  morning  to  the  fortifications  to  direct  the 
artillery  practice.  The  Van  Decht  battery  has  been  in 
action  this  morning,"  he  added,  smiling. 

"  I  presume,  sir,  that  this  is  a  warlike  country  !  "  Mr. 
Van  Decht  remarked. 

A  shadow  crept  over  the  King's  face. 

"  It  is  not  our  choice,"  he  answered.  "  We  are  sur- 
rounded by  dangerous  enemies,  and  we  are  a  very  small 
nation.  Our  security  depends  solely  upon  our  readi- 
ness to  resist  attack.  For  these  last  two  months  I  have 
had  to  forget  that  I  am  a  King,  and  remember  only  that 
I  am  Commander-in-Chief  of  our  little  army." 

"  I  presume  that  you  are  not  anticipating  any  im- 
mediate trouble,  sir  ?  "  Mr.  Van  Decht  asked. 

The  King  glanced  round.  Already  he  was  learning 
the  lesson  of  caution. 

"  The  history  of  Theos,"  he  said,  "  is  doubtless  un- 
known to  you.  Turkey  is  our  old  and  historic  enemy, 
and  her  attitude  towards  us  just  now  is,  to  say  the  least 
of  it,  threatening.  We  trust  to  our  inoffensiveness  and 
the  good-will  of  the  Powers  to  preserve  our  independ- 
ence, but  we  judge  it  best  to  be  prepared  so  far  as  pos- 
sible to  fight  our  own  battles.  Well,,.Cr.astfiIl»_what  are 
you  bringing  us  ?  " 

The  hotel  proprietor  bowed  low,  and  filled  some 
finely-cut  glasses  with  liqueur  from  a  dusty  and  care- 
fully cradled  bottle. 

"The  fin  champagne,  your  Majesty,  was  brought 
from  the  cellars  of  Louis  Philippe  by  my  father.  I 
trust  your  Majesty  will  approve." 


158  THE  TRAITORS 

Ughtred  sipped  it,  and  did  approve.  He  accepted 
some  coffee  also,  and  broke  a  roll  in  his  fingers. 

"  This  is  my  longest  fast,"  he  explained,  laughing. 
"  We  ride  out  at  six  to  escape  the  heat.  Part  of  my 

J 

afternoon  I  spend  at  the  barracks  and  part  at  the  House 
of  Laws." 

"  It  appears  to  me,  sir,  that  you  find  pretty  consider- 
able to  do,"  Mr.  Van  Decht  remarked.  "  I'd  an  idea 
that  royalty  had  an  easier  time  of  it." 

"A  good  many  people  share  that  idea,  Mr.  Van 
Decht,"  Ughtred  answered,  good-humouredly.  "  For 
myself,  I  never  worked  half  so  hard  in  all  my  life.  But 
then,  it  is  work  I  love,  and  for  my  country,  which  is  very 
dear  to  me.  Some  day  I  hope,  when  things  are  more 
settled,  to  be  able  to  drop  the  military  part  of  my 
labours,  and  give  all  my  attention  to  the  development 
of  my  country." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  nodded.  He  was  greatly  enjoying 
the  fin  champagne. 

u  You're  right  there,  sir,"  he  declared.  "  Make  a 
nation  strong  commercially,  and  she'll  hold  her  own  in 
time  against  the  world.  I  guess  you're  a  travelled  man, 
sir,  and  you  won't  mind  a  stranger  remarking  that  in 
some  ways  you're  a  little  behind  the  times  here." 

Sara's  eyes  twinkled  with  amusement.  The  young 
officer,  who  understood  a  little  English,  glanced  at  Reist, 
and  was  speechless. 

"  You  mustn't  mind  father,"  Sara  exclaimed.  "  You 
know  he's  a  terrible  democrat,  and  utilitarian  to  the 
backbone.  He's  dying  to  introduce  electric  cars  here 
and  electric  light." 


THE  TRAITORS  159 

"  Why,  you  want  them  bad  enough,"  her  father  ad- 
mitted. "  I  don't  suppose  we've  a  town  of  half  the  size 
in  the  States  where  we  haven't  both,  and  this  a  capital 
city  too." 

"  Mr.  Van  Decht  is  quite  right,"  Ughtred  said,  gravely, 
"  only  one  has  always  to  remember  that  this  is  a  very 
poor  country,  and  we  can't  afford  to  pay  for  luxuries." 

"  I  guess  those  cars  would  pay  for  themselves  before 
long,  sir,"  Mr.  Van  Decht  declared. 

"It  is  very  likely,"  Ughtred  answered.  "I'm  sure 
that  if  any  capitalist  were  disposed  to  undertake  the 
commercial  part  of  it,  there  would  be  very  little  diffi- 
culty about  the  concession." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  rose  up  briskly. 

"  If  you'll  excuse  me,  sir,"  he  said,  "  I  guess  I'll  hail 
that  bobby  hutch  and  go  the  round." 

The  King  laughed. 

"You  are  a  man  of  business,  Mr.  Van  Decht,"  he 
said.  "  Certainly,  go  and  help  yourself  to  all  the  in- 
formation you  can.  Sara,  if  you  will  come  up  with  me 
I  will  show  you  the  palace.  I  am  afraid  there  is  nothing 
there  to  interest  your  father,  but  he  will  have  many 
opportunities  of  seeing  it.  Reist,  will  you  see  if  the 
carriage  has  come  ?  " 

For  a  moment  they  were  alone. 

They  looked  into  one  another's  eyes,  and  Sara  laughed 
softly. 

"  Why,  this  is  just  the  queerest  thing  in  the  world," 
she  murmured.  "  What  will  happen  to  me  at  the  palace 
if  I  forget  to  say  4  your  Majesty,'  and  ought  I  to  curtsey 
when  I  speak  to  you  ?  " 


166  THE  TRAITORS 

Ughtred  smiled  back  at  her. 

"  I  believe,"  he  said,  "  that  you  ought  to  kiss — my 
hand." 

"  Then  I  guess  I  won't,"  she  answered.  "  I  believe 
I'm  democrat  enough  to  expect " 

"  What  ? " 

He  leaned  over  towards  her,  but  the  sentence  was 
never  finished.  Reist  stood  before  them,  and  the  look 
on  his  face  was  a  forecast  of  coming  trouble. 

"  The  carriage  is  here,  your  Majesty ! "  he  an- 
nounced. * 


"  'I    BELIEVE,'    HE  SAID,   'THAT    YOU    OUGHT   TO    KISS — MY  HANP, 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

"  WHAT  do  I  think  of  Theos  ?  "  Sara  repeated.  "  I 
think  it  must  be  the  lost  paradise  of  the  lotus-eaters. 
It  does  not  seem  possible  for  anything  ever  to  happen 
here." 

Ughtred  laughed. 

"  We  share  the  primitive  passions  with  the  rest  of 
mankind,"  he  assured  her.  "  We  know  what  it  is  to  be 
excited,  even  to  be  rowdy.  The  wear  and  tear  of  life 
perhaps  touches  us  more  lightly  than  in  your  Western 
cities.  You  see  we  are  a  rural  people." 

"  Miss  Van  Decht,"  Reist  remarked  dryly,  "  misses 
perhaps  the  clang  of  the  electric  cars  and  the  factory 
sirens." 

"  It  is  the  proverbial  peace  of  the  city  amongst  the 
mountains,"  Ughtred  said.  "  Yet  if  you  listen  you  can 
hear  the  murmur  of  voices  in  the  cafes,  and  there  is  a 
band  playing  in  the  square." 

"It  is  all— delightful,"  Sara  declared.  "Only  I 
wonder  that  you  find  it  possible  to  take  life  seriously 
here." 

They  were  sitting  out  on  the  great  stone  balcony 
behind  the  palace — Ughtred,  Reist,  and  Marie,  Mr.  Van 
Decht  and  Sara.  A  servant  in  spotless  white  livery 
had  silently  arranged  coffee  and  liqueur  in  strange-look- 
ing bottles  upon  a  table  already  laden  with  fruit.  Below 
them  were  the  terraced  lawns  leading  to  the  river,  dotted 

161 


162  THE  TRAITORS 

with  dark  fir-trees  and  flowering  shrubs — beyond  the 
red  roofs  and  white  fronts  of  many  villas,  in  the  distance 
the  blue  mountains.  The  King  and  Sara  Van  Decht 
were  sitting  side  by  side.  Marie,  unusually  taciturn, 
leaned  back  in  her  chair,  listening  and  watching  with 
half-closed  eyes. 

Ughtred  lit  a  fresh  cigarette,  and  smoked  for  a  mo- 
ment thoughtfully. 

"  I  can  assure  you,"  he  said,  "  that  life  is,  in  its  way, 
as  complex  a  thing  here  as  in  the  greater  cities.  The 
people  are  very  poor,  and  how  to  raise  money  enough 
to  develop  the  country  and  pay  our  way  without  undue 
taxation  is  a  very  serious  problem  indeed.  Then  you 
must  not  forget  that  we  live  always  in  the  shadow  of  a 
great  danger." 

Sara  looked  at  him  inquiringly.  He  pointed  south- 
wards to  the  mountains. 

"  Beyond  there,"  he  said,  "  is  Turkey,  and  Turkey 
is  our  eternal  enemy.  Even  now  there  are  strained  rela- 
tions between  us.  Night  and  day  our  watchmen  guard  the 
passes.  There  have  been  rumours  lately  of  an  impend- 
ing raid  upon  our  frontier  villages." 

Sara  listened  with  rapt  attention. 

"  How  fascinating.  It  really  sounds  quite  mediae- 
val." 

41  We  are  mediaeval  in  more  ways  than  one,"  he  con- 
tinued. "  Our  standing  army  consists  of  barely  one 
thousand  men,  but  in  case  of  war  the  whole  of  our  male 
population  would  take  up  arms.  Every  man  must  fight 
himself  for  his  home  and  his  native  land.  If  you  can 
spare  the  time  here  we  will  go  to  some  of  the  more  dis- 


THE  TRAITORS  163 

tant  villages,  and  you  will  see  the  Saturday  drill.  I  am 
rather  proud  of  my  military  system." 

She  looked  across  at  her  father. 

"  He  is  so  restless,"  she  said.  "  I  can  never  tell  how 
long  he  will  stand  any  one  place.  Just  at  present  he  talks 
as  though  he  were  disposed  to  settle  down  here  for  the 
rest  of  his  life." 

Marie  leaned  foward.  Her  face  gleamed  pale  in  the 
twilight,  her  tone  was  almost  openly  contemptuous. 

"  Away  from  the  electric  cars,  and  sirens,  and  all  the 
delights  of  your  Western  cities  ?  " 

Sara  nodded  gravely. 

"  Yes  !  Away  even  from  the  Paris  edition  of  the 
New  York  Herald.  But  then,  my  father,  you  know,  is 
terribly  mercenary.  I  believe  he  thinks  that  there  is 
scope  for  the  capitalist  here." 

"  Your  father  is  quite  right  then,"  Ughtred  answered, 
smiling.  "  Try  and  persuade  him  to  give  the  place  a 
trial.  It  is  supposed,  you  know,  to  be  the  healthiest  spot 
in  Europe." 

"  Why,  I'm  in  no  hurry  to  leave,  and  that's  a  fact," 
Mr.  Van  Decht  admitted.  "  I've  an  appointment  with 
the  manager  of  your  cars  here  to-morrow,  and  if  we  do 
business  I  guess  I'll  have  to  stop." 

Sara  laughed  softly. 

"  That's  just  like  father  !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Wher- 
ever he  goes  and  finds  horse-cars  he  wants  to  either  buy 
the  company  out  or  put  in  his  own  system  of  electric 
cars.  I'm  afraid  you  think  we're  very  commercial, 
don't  you,  Countess  ?  " 

"  Oh,   no,"  Marie  answered,  coldly.     "  One  rather 


164  THE  TRAITORS 

expects  that,  you  know,  from  your  nation.  It  is  very 
interesting.  I  must  confess,  though,  that  I  do  not  wish 
to  see  electric  cars  in  the  streets  of  Theos." 

"  And  why  not,  young  lady  ? "  Mr.  Van  Decht  in- 
quired. 

"  Because  I  love  my  old  city  too  well  to  wish  to  see 
her  modernized  and  made  hideous,"  Marie  answered. 
"  It  is  scarcely  a  feeling  with  which  one  could  expect 
strangers  to  sympathize ;  but  there  are  many  others  be- 
sides myself  who  would  feel  the  same  way." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  nodded. 

"  Is  that  so  ?  Well,  nowadays  the  countries  who 
place  the  picturesque  before  the  useful  are  very  few  and 
far  between.  I  guess  it's  as  well  for  the  community  at 
large  that  it  is  so.  You  would  scarcely  call  that  broken- 
down  old  omnibus,  dragged  along  by  a  lame  mule, 
a  credit  to  Theos  or  a  particularly  picturesque  sur- 
vival." 

Marie  shrugged  her  shoulders,  and  dismissed  the  sub- 
ject with  a  little  gesture  of  contempt.  Mr.  Van  Decht 
waited  for  a  minute,  and  then,  as  she  remained  silent, 
continued  — 

"  A  country  which  neglects  the  laws  of  progress  is  not 
a  country  which  can  ever  hope  for  prosperity.  Don't 
you  agree  with  me,  sir  ?  "  he  asked  the  King. 

Ughtred  nodded. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  do,"  he  admitted.  "  Theos,  with 
its  vineyards  and  hand-ploughs,  its  simple  hill-folk  and 
its  quaint  village  towns,  is,  from  an  artistic  point  of 
view,  delightful.  Yet  I  am  bound  to  admit  that  for  the 
sake  of  its  children  and  the  unborn  generations,  I  would 


THE  TRAITORS  165 

rather  see  factory  chimneys  in  its  valleys  and  mine 
shafts  in  the  hills.  The  people  are  poor,  and  so  long 
as  we  have  to  import  everything  we  use  and  wear,  we 
must  get  poorer  and  poorer.  The  country  is  productive 
enough.  We  have  minerals  and  a  wonderful  soil. 
What  we  need  is  capital  and  enterprise." 

Marie  shuddered. 

"  And  you  are  a  Tyrnaus !  "  she  murmured,  with  a 
sidelong  glance  of  reproach. 

"It  is  my  fortune,"  he  said,  "good  or  bad,  to  know 
more  of  the  world  outside  than  those  who  came  before 
me.  Please  God,  I  am  going  to  leave  Theos  a  richer 
and  happier  country  when  my  days  here  are  spent.  If 
we  are  spared  from  war  I  shall  do  it." 

"  In  future,"  Marie  said,  "  I  shall  dread  war  less.  I 
begin  to  see  that  there  are  other  evil  things." 

She  rose  and  bowed  slightly  to  the  King. 

"Your  Majesty  will  excuse  me,"  she  said.  "I  find 
the  air  a  little  cold." 

She  passed  down  the  terrace  steps,  her  maid  a  few 
yards  behind.  A  certain  reserve  fell  upon  the  others. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  Sara  said  to  Nicholas  of  Reist,  "  that 
your  sister  does  not  approve  of  me." 

He  hesitated. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  "  is  passionately  faithful  to  all  the 
traditions  of  our  family  and  our  race.  This  is  a  con- 
servative country,  and  no  one  more  so  than  she.  I  my- 
self am  in  close  sympathy  with  her.  Yet  my  reason 
tells  me  that  we  are  both  wrong.  Our  peasantry  are 
finding  already  the  struggle  for  existence  a  severe  one — 
a  single  failure  in  the  crops  would  mean  a  famine.  It 


i66  THE  TRAITORS 

has  occurred  to  me,  Mr.  Van  Decht,  that  the  advice  of 
a  man  of  affairs  such  as  yourself  may  be  very  useful  to 
us." 

Ughtred  rose  up. 

"  You  shall  talk  progress  together,"  he  said,  "  while  I 
show  Miss  Van  Decht  my  pictures." 


Marie  held  the  note  in  her  fingers,  looking  at  it 
doubtfully.  It  was  addressed  to  her,  thrust  secretly  into 
her  maid's  hand  by  a  stranger  in  the  crush  outside  the 
palace  gates.  At  least  that  was  the  girl's  story.  She 
tore  it  open. 

u  You  are  a  patriot,  the  sister  of  Nicholas  of  Reist, 
and  the  King's  friend.  By  you  he  may  be  warned. 
The  American  woman  who  with  her  father  has  come  to 
Theos,  was  betrothed  to  him  in  London.  She  has 
come  to  claim  her  position.  The  people  of  Theos  will 
never  accept  as  their  queen  a  woman  of  humble  birth, 
the  child  of  tradespeople.  Let  the  King  be  warned." 

She  tore  the  note  into  a  thousand  pieces,  and  walked 
restlessly  up  and  down  the  great  room.  Her  eyes  were 
lit  with  fire,  and  a  scarlet  spot  burned  in  her  cheeks. 

"  Oh,  if  he  should  dare,"  she  murmured.  "  If  he 
should  dare ! " 

She  stopped  abruptly  before  the  picture  of  Rudolph. 
The  flickering  light  of  fifty  wax  candles  from  the 
huge  silver  candelabra  on  the  oaken  table  lit  up  the 
dull  canvas.  It  was  Ughtred  himself  who  looked  down 
at  her. 


THE  TRAITORS  167 

"  Queen  of  Theos  !  "  she  murmured.  "  Why  not  ? 
We  have  drunk  together  from  the  King's  cup." 

"  Countess  !  " 

She  turned  quickly  round.  Brand  had  come  silently 
into  the  room.  > 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

"  You ! " 

Her  surprised  interjection  recalled  to  him  for  the  first 
time  the  hour  and  the  strangeness  of  his  visit.  Yet  he 
attempted  little  in  the  way  of  excuse. 

"  I  may  stay  five  minutes,"  he  begged.  "  You  are 
alone  ?  " 

"  It  is  very  late,"  she  murmured. 

He  pointed  out  of  the  great  window  at  the  far  end  of 
the  room. 

"  Your  brother  is  attending  the  King.  If  he  should 
return — well,  mine  is  no  idle  errand.  I  can  justify  my 
coming,  even  at  this  hour." 

Then  she  noticed  that  he  was  not  dressed  for  the 
evening,  that  he  was  pale,  and  that  there  was  trouble 
in  his  eyes.  She  led  him  into  a  smaller  room,  pushed 
open  a  window,  and  beckoned  him  to  follow  her  down 
the  worn  grey  steps  into  the  gardens. 

"  This  is  my  favourite  corner,"  she  said.  "  Beyond 
are  the  flower  gardens,  and  the  air  here  at  night  is 
always  sweet.  You  shall  sit  with  me,  my  friend,  and 
you  shall  tell  me  what  it  is  that  brings  you  with  this 
look  of  trouble  in  your  face." 

His  eyes  remained  fixed  upon  her  with  a  sudden 
passionate  wistfulness.  She  was  very  sweet  and  gracious, 
and  her  slow  speech  seemed  to  him  more  musical  than 
ever.  So  he  sat  by  her  side,  and  a  little  sea  of  white 

1 68 


THE  TRAITORS  169 

satin  and  lace  and  soft  draperies  covered  up  all  the 
space  between  them,  for  it  had  been  a  State  dinner  at 
the  palace,  and  he  found  speech  very  difficult. 

"  Now  this  is  restful  and  very  pleasant,"  she  said, 
after  a  long  pause.  "  But  you  must  tell  me  why  you 
have  come.  It  was  not  by  chance — to  see  me  ?  But 
no  ?  You  spoke  also  of  my  brother." 

Her  eyes  sought  his — a  spice  of  coquetry  in  their 
questioning  gleam.  But  the  cloud  lingered  upon  his 
face. 

"  I  would  not  have  dared  to  come  at  such  an  hour," 
he  said,  "  if  my  visit  were  an  ordinary  one." 

"  How  very  unenterprising,"  she  murmured.  "  I  am 
sure  that  this  is  much  the  pleasantest  time  of  the  day." 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  is  Baron  Domiloff  a 
friend  of  yours  ?  " 

"  Of  mine  ?  But  no.  Why  do  you  ask  such  a 
question  ?  " 

"  He  has  been  banished  from  Theos.  Did  you  know 
that  he  was  hiding  still  in  the  city  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head  slowly. 

u  I  know  nothing,"  she  answered.  "  How  strange 
that  you  should  ask  me." 

"  Is  it  not  true,  then,"  he  continued,  "that  you  and 
he  and  your  brother  are  plotting  against  the  King  ? " 

She  regarded  him  with  uplifted  eyebrows.  Then  she 
patted  him  gently  on  the  arm  with  her  fan. 

"It  is  the  moon,  my  friend,"  she  declared.  "A  little 
brie"/  frenzy,  is  it  not  ?  " 

His  tone  recovered  confidence.  He  breathed  a  sigh 
of  relief, 


i;o  THE  TRAITORS 

"  The  man  lied  to  me,"  he  declared.  "  Now  I  will 
tell  you  just  what  has  happened  to  me.  You  know  that 
I  have  a  room  in  the  Theba  Place.  Well,  to-night,  as 
I  was  about  to  prepare  for  dinner,  a  messenger,  a  native 
Thetian  he  seemed  to  me,  brought  a  note  to  my  rooms. 
It  was  neither  signed  nor  addressed.  But  it  bade  me 
follow  the  bearer  without  question  if  I  would  be  of 
service  to  Theos." 

"  You  went  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Of  course,"  he  answered,  quickly.  "  If  the  sum- 
mons was  genuine,  well  and  good — if  it  was  false,  I  still 
wanted  to  know  the  meaning  of  it." 

"  And  which  was  it  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Genuine  enough,"  he  answered,  gravely.  "  I  was 
led  into  a  quarter  of  Theos  where  I  have  never  been 
before,  and  which  I  am  sure  I  could  not  find  again. 
We  arrived  at  a  little  cafe — I  do  not  know  the  name — 
it  was  somewhere  outside  the  walls.  A  man  was  wait- 
ing for  me  in  a  back  room.  He  was  disguised,  but  I 
recognized  him  at  once.  It  was  Domiloff!  " 

She  started.  Instinctively  he  felt  that  she  was  deeply 
interested. 

"  At  first  I  thought  that  it  was  a  trap — that  DomiloiF 
was  preparing  some  revenge  for  my  personation  of  the 
King.  Soon,  however,  I  learnt  that  his  intention  was  a 
different  one.  He  is  concerned  in  a  plot  to  dethrone  the 
King,  and  he  proposed  that  I  should  throw  in  my  lot 
with  his  party." 

"  Did  he  tell  you,  then,  that  Nicholas  and  I  were  con- 
cerned in  it  ? " 

"  No.     From   his   point  of  view  your  cooperation  as 


THE  TRAITORS  171 

yet  was  unnecessary.  Yet  the  whole  thing  is  concerned 
with  you  and  your  brother,  for  Domiloff  has  named  him 
as  the  future  ruler  of  Theos.  He  offered  to  give  me 
positive  evidence  that  Russia  has  decided  to  remove 
Ughtred  from  the  throne,  that  Theos  itself  is  in  deadly 
peril." 

"  There  is  one  thing,"  she  said,  "  which  I  do  not 
quite  understand.  Why  did  Domiloff  send  for  you  ? 
You  are  not  a  soldier,  nor  are  you  well-known  to  the 
Thetians." 

"  It  is  very  simple,"  he  answered.  "  To-day  the 
Press  has  an  immense  influence  upon  public  opinion  in 
England  and  all  the  Western  countries.  I  am  writing 
for  my  paper  in  England  a  series  of  articles  upon  Theos, 
and  I  am  writing  from  a  point  of  view  friendly  to 
Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus.  Domiloff  wants  these  articles 
stopped.  He  professes  to  need  my  active  help.  What 
he  really  desires  is  that  I  write  no  more,  or  alter  the  tone 
of  my  letters." 

Her  satin  slipper  traced  a  mystic  pattern  upon  the 
smooth  green  turf. 

"  These  are  two  things,"  she  said,  "  which  I  do  not 
understand.  The  Baron  Domiloff  has  repute  as  a  cun- 
ning and  very  shrewd  diplomatist.  Did  he  ask  you  for 
no  pledge  that  you  would  not  speak  of  these  things  to 
the  King  ? " 

Brand  shook  his  head. 

"  It  would  have  been  useless,"  he  answered.  "  I 
think  that  he  knew  quite  well  that  I  should  give  no  such 
pledge.  That  is  what  makes  me  believe  that  the  matter 
is  serious.  He  is  so  sure  of  coming  events  that  failing 


I72  THE  TRAITORS 

my  joining  with  him  he  expressed  himself  as  indifferent 
as  to  what  my  course  of  action  might  be.  There  was 
only  one  condition  he  made  before  I  left — and  that  one 
I  agreed  to." 

She  looked  at  him  inquiringly. 

"  It  was  that  I  should  come  to  you — before  I  went  to 
the  King." 

Their  eyes  met.  In  that  single  luminous  moment  he 
learned  that  these  things  came  at  least  as  no  surprise  to 
her.  He  seemed  even  to  divine  something  of  that  de- 
sire which  had  eaten  its  way  into  her  heart. 

"  To  me  !  "  she  murmured.     "  Well  ?  " 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  gravely,  "  for  myself  there  is 
but  one  course  of  action  possible.  I  came  here  as  the 
friend  of  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus.  I  am  bound  to  his 
cause  by  every  tie  of  honour,  as  well  as  my  own  sym- 
pathies. Before  the  morning  I  shall  have  told  him  all 
that  I  have  told  you." 

Her  fan  fluttered  idly  in  her  fingers.  She  remained 
silent,  but  he  had  a  fancy  that  a  shadow  had  fallen  be- 
tween them. 

"  Domiloff"  sent  me  to  you,"  he  continued.  "  What 
does  that  mean  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head. 

"The  ways  of  Baron  DomilofF,"  she  said,  "are  not 
easy  to  understand." 

"  Are  you  and  your  brother  concerned  in  this — 
plot  ?  "  he  asked,  gravely. 

"My  brother,"  she  said,  "would,  I  believe,  shoot 
you  if  you  asked  him  such  a  question.  It  is  only  a  few 
months  ago  that  he  himself  brought  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus 


- 


THE  TRAITORS  173 

here.     Nicholas  has  too  little  ambition.     He  is  a  patriot, 
pure  and  simple." 

"And  you — yourself?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  have  had  no  dealings  with  Baron  Domiloff,"  she 
answered,  "  but  I  think  that  he  knows  my  views.  I  do 
not  love  the  family  of  Tyrnaus,  and  I  do  not  think  that 
Ughtred  had  any  claim  to  the  throne  of  Theos.  His 
father  and  grandfather  misgoverned  the  country,  and 
estranged  all  the  nobility,  who  were  the  backbone  of  the 
State.  We  alone  are  left,  and  if  Ughtred  should  marry 
the  daughter  of  this  American  tradesman  we,  too,  must 
become  exiles." 

"  But  you  would  not  stoop,"  he  murmured,  "  to  plot 
against  the  King  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  necessary,"  she  answered.  "  I  believe  that 
what  you  have  been  told  is  true.  I  believe  that  Russia 
will  not  tolerate  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus.  My  friend," 
she  added,  in  a  softer  tone,  "  why  do  you  concern  your- 
self in  these  things  ?  Leave  Domiloff  alone,  and,  be- 
lieve me,  your  warning  to  the  King  would  be  wasted. 
Stay  here,  and  watch  for  the  things  which  may  happen. 
Do  you  remember  what  we  talked  about  that  night  at 
the  palace  ?  The  times  are  coming — wait,  and  your 
opportunity  may  also  show  itself.  Who  knows  that 
your  own  future  may  not  become  linked  with  the  future 
of  Theos  ? " 

She  leaned  over  towards  him,  her  hand  fell  upon  his 
shoulder,  and  its  touch,  though  light,  was  like  a  caress. 
Then  Brand  understood  that  this  was  temptation,  for 
his  whole  being  quivered  with  the  delight  of  her  soft- 
ened tone,  and  the  unspoken  things  which  trembled 


i74  THE  TRAITORS 

there  and  shone  from  her  eyes.  In  truth,  she,  too,  was 
thinking  of  the  moment  when  she  had  believed  him  to 
be  the  King. 

"  Dear  lady,"  he  said,  almost  pleadingly,  "  I  would  be 
content  to  live  all  my  days  in  Theos  if " 

He  hesitated.  A  wonderful  smile  curved  her  lips,  and 
her  eyes  were  full  of  invitation.  Yet  he  hesitated. 

"  For  a  brave  man,"  she  murmured,  "  you  are  very 
— very  faint-hearted." 

Whereupon  he  took  her  into  his  arms,  and  kissed 
her. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

IT  chanced  that  a  brilliant  autumn  brought  a  season  of 
great  prosperity  to  the  Thetian  wine-growers  and  farm- 
ers, and  the  year  of  Ughtred's  accession  to  the  throne 
seemed  likely  to  be  marked  with  a  white  stone  in  their 
annals.  Never  had  a  ruler  been  more  popular  with  all 
classes.  His  military  system,  while  it  made  no  undue 
demands  upon  the  people,  provoked  the  admiration  of 
Europe,  and  several  important  and  successful  industrial 
undertakings  were  due  entirely  to  his  instigation.  Mr. 
Van  Decht,  fascinated  by  the  climate,  the  primitive  but 
delightful  life,  and  a  firm  believer  in  the  possibilities  of 
the  country,  still  lingered  in  the  capital,  and  already  the 
results  of  his  large  investments  were  beginning  to  be 
felt.  Only  a  few  people  knew  of  the  hidden  danger 
which  was  ever  brooding  over  the  land — a  danger  which 
Ughtred  had  realized  from  the  first,  and  which  from  the 
first  he  had  set  himself  steadfastly  to  avert.  A  soldier 
himself,  he  knew  something  of  the  horrors  of  war. 
Nothing  seemed  to  him  more  awful  than  the  vision  of 
this  beautiful  country  blackened  and  devastated,  her 
corn-fields  soaked  with  blood,  her  pleasant  pastoral  life 
swept  away  in  the  grim  struggle  against  an  only  partially- 
civilized  enemy.  He  set  himself  passionately  to  work 
to  strive  for  peace. 

Reist  came  to  him  one  evening  straight  from  the 
House  of  Laws  with  a  suggestion. 

175 


176  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  the  people  are  asking  for 
a  queen." 

Ughtred  laughed. 

"  I'm  sorry  I  can't  oblige  them  off-hand,"  he  an- 
swered. 

"  Has  your  Majesty  never  thought  of  an  alliance 
through  marriage  with  one  of  the  Powers  ?  Not  a  direct 
alliance,  perhaps,  but  one  which  might  be  useful  to  us  if 
the  worst  should  come." 

Ughtred  shook  his  head. 

"  A  dream,  my  friend,"  he  answered.  "  There  is 
only  one  country  in  the  world  who  could  help  us,  and  I 
fear  an  English  princess  would  be  beyond  our  wildest 
dreams.  Friendship  with  Russia  is  more  to  be  dreaded 
than  her  open  enmity.  France  has  no  royal  family,  and 
is  bound  up  with  Russia.  Germany  and  Austria  are 
tied." 

"  Your  marriage  has  been  spoken  of,  sire,"  Reist  said 
slowly.  "  I  have  promised  to  convey  to  the  House  your 
views.  A  queen  would  be  very  popular." 

"  I  am  not  prepared  at  present  to  make  any  announce- 
ment upon  the  subject,"  Ughtred  answered. 

"  I  should  not  hesitate  at  any  sacrifice  which  the  safety 
or  benefit  of  Theos  seemed  to  require.  At  present  there 
is  no  question  of  anything  of  the  sort." 

Reist  bowed,  and  abandoned  the  subject.  But  late 
that  night  he  sought  his  sister.  She  was  sitting  on  the 
stone  balcony  which  led  from  her  own  suite  of  rooms, 
her  elbow  upon  the  worn  balustrade,  her  clear,  beautiful 
face  clouded  with  thought.  For  the  first  time  Nicholas 
noticed  a  change  in  her.  She  was  thinner,  and  there 


THE  TRAITORS  177 

were  dark  lines  under  her  eyes.  A  vague  trouble  was  in 
her  eyes. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  "  you  have  not  been  to  the  palace 
lately." 

«  No." 

"  Tell  me  why." 

She  turned  slowly  towards  him. 

"  Need  you  ask  !  I  hate  that  American  girl.  She  is 
always  there.  She  monopolizes  everything.  I  wish  to 
Heaven  that  she  would  go  away." 

Reist  came  a  little  closer.     His  voice  dropped. 

"  Has  he  spoken  ?  " 

"  You  know  that  he  has  not." 

The  face  of  the  man  was  stern  and  grey — even  as  the 
face  of  one  musing  upon  evil  things. 

"  To-night,"  he  said,  "  I  gave  him  every  opportunity. 
By  all  ancient  laws  and  customs  he  is  your  betrothed^? 
and  he  knows  it.  Yet  he  persists  in  this  uncompro- 
mising silence.  The  difficulty  remains  only  with 
himself." 

She  drew  nearer  to  him. 

"  It  is  an  insult  to  our  house,"  she  murmured.  "  I 
am  glad  that  you  have  spoken  to  me  of  this,  Nicholas. 
It  is  unbearable  !  " 

"  You  are  right,"  he  admitted.  "  You  have  been 
patient,  Marie,  and  so  have  I.  The  time  has  come 
to  end  it." 

She  laid  her  slender  fingers  upon  his  arm.  Slenderer 
than  ever  they  seemed  to  him  now,  and  unbejewelled 
save  for  one  great  emerald  set  in  dull  gold  which  burned 
upon  her  fourth  finger. 


178  THE  TRAITORS 

"  What  can  you  do,  Nicholas  ?  You  know  the  mean- 
ing of  it  all.  It  is  the  coming  of  Sara  Van  Decht." 

He  nodded  thoughtfully. 

"  I  myself,"  he  said, "  have  watched — and  seen.  But, 
Marie,  the  daughter  of  a  tradesman,  though  he  were 
rich  enough  to  buy  a  kingdom,  can  never  sit  upon  the 
throne  of  Theos." 

"  He  is  masterful,"  she  said,  "  and  I  think  that  he 
cares  for  her.  He  will  have  his  own  way." 

Reist  was  wearing  his  uniform,  for  there  had  been  a 
reception  at  the  Austrian  Minister's.  As  though  by 
accident  he  touched  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

"  Our  honour  is  engaged,  Marie,"  he  said.  "  You 
may  safely  leave  all  in  my  hands." 

"  He  is  your  King  !  "  she  reminded  him,  with  a  side- 
long glance,  as  though  anxious  to  watch  the  effect  of 
her  words. 

"And  I,"  he  answered,  hotly,  "am  Nicholas,  Duke 
of  Reist.  Since  when,  Marie,  have  the  men  of  Tyrnaus 
reached  a  pinn-acle  when  the  Reists  could  not  address 
them  as  equals  ?  Our  quarterings  are  more  numerous, 
our  House  is  more  ancient  than  theirs.  ..Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  must  answer  to  me  as  would  any  other  gentle- 
man of  his  rank  if  the  time  should  come  when  our 
honour  demands  it." 

"  Those  are  brave  words,  my  brother  !  "  she  said. 

"  You  do  not  doubt  me,  Marie  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  I  do  not  doubt  you,  Nicholas,  only " 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  There  was  a  time  when  the  throne  was  yours,  when 


THE  TRAITORS  179 

the  people  would  have  shouted  you  King.  You  let  it 
go  by.  You  pointed  there !  Tell  me,  Nicholas,  is  it 
forever  this  waiting  ?  " 

Her  forefinger  was  raised  to  that  carved  motto.  Nicho- 
las remained  for  a  moment  lost  in  thought. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  presently.  "  I  will  tell  you  the 
truth.  I  did  not  give  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  credit  for 
such  gifts  as  he  has  shown.  I  wanted  the  principle  of 
monarchy  reestablished,  and  it  was  best  to  revert  to  the 
royal  house.  Then  I  found  that  he  was  a  better  man 
than  I  had  thought,  and  an  alliance  with  you  would  have 
reconciled  me  to  his  reign.  Now — I  must  admit — I 
am  doubtful." 

She  remained  for  a  moment  lost  in  thought.  Had 
the  time  come  when  she  might  speak  ?  He  detested 
Domiloff  and  all  his  ways — at  heart,  too,  the  good  of 
Theos  was  far  dearer  to  him  than  any  personal  ambition." 

11  Nicholas,  you  say  that  you  are  doubtful.  I  have  a 
feeling  that  before  long  the  King  will  announce  his  in- 
tention of  marrying  Sara  Van  Decht.  Will  you  remain 
even  then  his  faithful  servant  ?  " 

The  scorn  in  her  tone  first  stung,  then  moved  him  to 
wonder. 

"You  do  not  love  the  King,  Marie  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Love  him  !  Nicholas,  it  is  better  that  there  should 
be  now  a  clear  understanding  of  things  between  us.  I 
am  a  Countess  of  Reist,  and  I  have  been  slighted  by  an 

•  -   -*    -  ji.-, __-•-.-.  r    L  P  -  r-  ,r  4 

adventurer — a  man  who  but  for  you  would  even  now 
have  been  living  in  poverty  in  a  foreign  land.  I  would 
not_  marry  him  though  he  begged  me  with  tears  in  his 
eyes,  to  save  his  throne,  to  save  his  life." 


180  THE  TRAITORS 

He  walked  restlessly  up  and  down.  His  own  pride 
had  been  wounded  bitterly.  Marie  was  right. 

"  I  am  willing,"  she  continued,  "  to  endure  this  affront 
if  it  seems  to  you  that  your  duty  to  Theos  still  bids  you 
hold  by  the  King  !  But  there  is  one  thing  to  which  I 
will  not  submit.  I  will  not  bow  the  knee  to  this  Ameri- 
can girl  if  he  should  make  her  Queen._  Nor  in  that  case 
will  I  suffer  you,  Nicholas,  to  remain  the  King's  coun- 
sellor." 

"  Nor  will  I  !  "  he  answered. 

"  Promise  me  one  thing  more,  my  brother  !  "  she 
begged.  "  If  again  we  should  hear  that  cry  ringing 
through  the  squares,  promise  me  that  you  will  not  fail 
them.  We  have  had  enough  of  strangers  in  Theos.  It 
is  those  who  have  lived  here  all  their  lives,  to  whom 
every  stone  of  the  place  is  dear,  who  should  control  her 
destinies." 

"  1  am  the  faithful  servant  of  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,"  he 
answered,  slowly,  "  while  he  serves  the  State  wisely  and 
well.  But  if  that  should  come  to  pass  which  we  have 
spoken  of,  the  evil  must  fall  upon  his  own  head. 
Listen  !  " 

There  was  some  commotion  without.  A  servant 
threw  open  the  door. 

His  Majesty  the  King  !  '\ 


" 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

THE  King  followed  hard  upon  the  footsteps  of  his 
seneschal,  and  neither  Reist  nor  Marie  was  wholly  at 
ease  in  the  first  moments  of  greeting.  It  was  the  latter 
to  whom  the  King  addressed  himself. 

u  My  visit,  Countess,"  he  said,  "  is  to  you.  I  am 
fortunate  in  finding  you  at  home." 

"  Your  Majesty  is  very  kind  ! "  Marie  answered. 

"  I  have  come,"  he  continued,  "  to  demand  an  expla- 
nation from  you — or  rather  to  beg  for  it.  You  have  been 
absent  from  all  our  gatherings  at  the  palace  lately.  I 
came  to  assure  myself  that  we  had  not  unwittingly 
offended  you,  or  to  ask  you  how  we  can  render  them 
sufficiently  attractive  to  insure  your  presence." 

Marie  was  taken  unawares  both  by  the  King's  visit 
and  by  the  directness  of  his  questioning.  It  was  Nicho- 
las who  answered  for  her. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  my  sister  does  not  enjoy 
the  best  of  health.  I  was  even  now  endeavouring  to 
persuade  her  to  spend  a  few  weeks  at  the  castle.  The 
mountain  air  is  always  good  for  her." 

"  Your  sister's  appearance,  then,"  the  King  replied, 
"much  belies  her  condition.  I  have  never  seen  her 
looking  better." 

"  Nevertheless,  my  brother  is  right,  your  Majesty," 
Marie  said.  "  I  have  decided  to  leave  Theos  for  a 
while." 

181 


182  THE  TRAITORS 

The  King  bowed. 

"  It  is  not  amongst  my  prerogatives  to  question  the 
movements  of  my  subjects,"  he  said,  gravely,  "  but  you 
must  forgive  me  if  I  remember  that  you  and  your 
brother  are  my  earliest  and  best  friends  here.  I  shall 
venture  to  ask  you  therefore  if  ill-health  is  your  only 
reason  for  desiring  to  absent  yourself  from  the  Court  ?  " 

Nicholas  intervened.  He  rose  and  held  back  the 
curtains  which  led  into  another  suite  of  rooms.  Marie 
understood,  and  with  a  quick  courtesy  rose  from  her 
seat. 

"Your  Majesty,"  Nicholas  said,  "with  your  permis- 
sion I  will  return  your  candour.  The  subject  is  one 
which  we  can  best  discuss  in  my  sister's  absence." 

Marie  passed  out.     Nicholas  let  fall  the  curtains. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  only  a  short  while  ago,  as 
your  counsellor,  and  as  one  who  has  the  interests  of 
Theos  greatly  at  heart,  I  ventured  to  allude  to  a  some- 
what delicate  subject — to  your  marriage." 

The  King  nodded. 

"Well?" 

"  I  must  take  the  liberty  of  reminding  your  Majesty 
of  your  first  visit  here  on  your  arrival  at  Theos.  We 
drank  wine  together  in  this  room,  the  Royal  betrothal 
cup  was  filled  for  you,  and  notwithstanding  my  remon- 
strances, at  your  particular  desire  my  sister  drank  with 
you  from  that  cup.  Its  history  and  associations  were 
known  to  you." 

The  King  rose  up. 

«  But " 

"  Your   Majesty   will   permit  me,"    Reist  interrupted. 


THE  TRAITORS  183 

"It  was  doubtless  an  act  of  thoughtless  good-nature 
on  your  part,  but  we  Thetians  hold  fast  by  our  old 
traditions,  and  regard  them  as  sacred  things.  The  news 
of  this  leaked  out,  and  the  marriage  of  your  Majesty  and 
the  Countess  of  Reist  has  been  freely  talked  of  through- 
out the  State.  Your  Majesty  will  perceive,  therefore, 
that  my  sister's  position  at  Court  naturally  became  a  try- 
ing one,  especially  as  her  rank  entitles  her  always  to  the 
place  by  your  side." 

Ughtred  was  silent  for  several  moments.  A  frown  of 
perplexity  spread  itself  over  his  face. 

"  Reist,"  he  said  slowly,  "  your  sister  is  very  charm- 
ing, and  I  have  a  great  admiration  for  her.  Yet  I  must 
admit  this.  The  idea  which  you  have  suggested  is  an 
altogether  new  one  to  me.  I  did  not,  for  one  moment, 
imagine  that  she  or  you  or  any  one  would  attach  any 
significance  to  what  I  looked  upon  at  the  time  as  a 
harmless  little  ceremony." 

Reist  bowed  low. 

"  To  the  people  of  Theos,"  he  said,  "  these  ancient 
customs  are  sacred.  Your  Majesty  will  permit  me  to 
proceed.  There  is  a  further  development  which  has  also 
a  bearing  upon  the  situation.  I  refer  to  the  advent  of 
Mr.  and  Miss  Van  Decht." 

The  King  raised  his  eyebrows. 

"  And  how  does  this  matter  concern,"  he  asked,  "  my 
very  good  friends,  the  Van  Dechts  ?  " 

"  Your  Majesty,"  Nicholas  answered,  "  has  admitted 
them,  considering  their  position,  or  I  should  say  their 
lack  of  position,  to  a  somewhat  surprising  familiarity. 
This  too  has  given  rise  to  much  comment  in  the  city. 


184  THE  TRAITORS 

Miss  Van  Decht  is  a  very  beautiful  young  woman,  and 
your  Majesty  has  treated  her  publicly  with  great  con- 
sideration, almost  as  an  equal.  Your  Majesty  must  bear 
with  our  prejudices.  This  is  not  a  democratic  country. 
We  hold  by  our  rank  and  its  obligations,  and  we  do  not 
consider  an  American  retired  tradesman  and  his  daughter 
people  whom  we  can  meet  habitually  on  terms  of  equality 
— even  at  the  Court  of  the  King." 

Ughtred  rose  from  his  chair,  and  his  mouth  was  set 
and  grim. 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  your  frankness,  Nicholas," 
he  said.  "  I  will  endeavour  to  return  it.  Mr.  Van 
Decht  and  his  daughter  are  my  very  good  friends,  and 
their  position  at  my  Court  is  that  of  valued  and  wel- 
come associates.  It  seems  to  me  that  whom  the  King 
can  treat  as  equals  his  nobles  may  endure  as  compan- 
ions. But  in  any  case  I  desire  to  say  this  to  you  and  to 
the  aristocracy  of  Theos,  whose  opinions  you  doubt- 
less express.  In  the  matter  of  my  friends,  as  in  the 
matter  of  taking  a  wife  when  the  time  may  come,  I 
do  not  permit  any  interference,  and  if  any  be  offered  I 
shall  resent  it.  Further,  if  any  stay  away  from  my 
Court  for  such  reasons  as  you  have  hinted  at  I  shall 
esteem  their  absence  a  personal  affront.  Am  I  under- 
stood ?  " 

Reist  bowed  in  cold  silence.  The  King  took  a  quick 
step  towards  him  and  laid  his  hand  upon  his  arm. 

"  Nicholas,"  he  said,  "  don't  let  me  lose  a  good  friend 
— you  to  whom  I  owe  my  kingdom.  Remember  that  I 
am  a  man  as  well  as  a  King.  I  did  not  promise  to 
become  a  machine  when  I  took  the  coronation  oaths.  I 


,. 


THE  TRAITORS  185 

have  my  likes  and  my  dislikes — as  you  have.  Bear  with 
me  a  little." 

Reist  hesitated.  There  entered  a  messenger  for  the 
King. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  announced,  "the  Englishman 
Brand,  is  at  the  palace.  He  desires  an  immediate  audi- 
ence?' 

Ughtred  took  up  his  cloak. 

"  I  fear  that  it  is  ill  news,"  he  said.  "  Follow  me, 
Reist,"  ~ 


CHAPTER  XXVII 


YOUR  Majesty 


The  King  waved  his  hand. 

"  You  can  leave  that  out,  Brand.  Speak  to  me 
plainly.  You  look  as  though  you  had  something  impor- 
tant to  say." 

"  I  have  indeed  !  "     Brand  answered. 

He  glanced  around  cautiously.  They  were  in  the 
chamber  used  for  meetings  of  the  Privy  Council — a 
great  room  with  stained  glass  windows,  fluted  pillars 
supporting  a  vaulted  roof,  stone  walls,  with  here  and  there 
a  covering  of  tapestry.  A  collection  of  ancient  arms 
was  hung  over  the  great  chimneypiece.  In  the  centre 
of  the  floor  stood  a  round  table  of  solid  oak.  A  bad 
room  for  confidences  this,  in  which  the  slightest  whisper 
awoke  curious  echoes.  The  King  noticed  Brand's 
hesitation,  and  divined  its  cause. 

"  Come  this  way,  Brand,"  he  directed.  "  Reist  is  close 
behind.  He  will  keep  out  all  intruders." 

They  passed  into  the  King's  private  study,  a  small 
octagonal  room  on  the  ground  floor  of  one  of  the 
towers.  The  King  threw  himself  into  an  easy  chair, 
and  pointed  towards  another,  but  Brand  remained  stand- 
ing. 

«  Well  ?  " 

"  Your  Majesty,  the  kingdom  of  Theos  is  in  danger  !  " 

"  I  know  it,"  the  King  answered,  calmly.  "  There  are 
186 


,. 


THE  TRAITORS  187 

traitors  in  the  city  itself.  I  have  felt  sure  of  it  for  some 
time." 

"  The  danger  is  urgent !  " 

"  Go  on." 

"  I  have  acquired  a  good  deal  of  information  during 
the  last  few  days,"  Brand  said.  "  Some  of  it  has  come 
through  a  source  which  I  may  not  reveal — piecemeal,  and 
in  disconnected  fragments.  You  will  have  to  take  a 
good  deal  on  trust." 

"  I  believe  in  you,  Brand." 

"  First  of  all,  then,"  Brand  said,  "  you  are  aware  of 
what  has  been  going  on  in  the  Press  all  over  Europe,  in 
Russia,  Germany,  and  France  ?  " 

The  King  nodded. 

"  A  widespread  conspiracy,"  he  said,  "  to  vilify  me 
and  my  methods  and  my  government.  I  have  been  rep- 
resented to  Europe  as  a  harebrained,  scheming,  military 
adventurer,  idle,  worthless,  a  drunkard,  and  heaps  of 
other  things.  I  know  it,  Brand.  I  know  another  thing, 
too.  I  know  that  one  paper  in  England,  through  thick 
and  thin,  has  been  my  friend.  I  do  not  deserve  all  the 
good  which  it  has  spoken  of  me.  On  the  other  hand,  I 
shall  always  regard  as  one  of  my  best  friends  the  man 
who  had  the  pluck  to  try  and  stem  the  tide." 

The  slender  fingers  of  the  journalist  found  themselves 
suddenly  within  the  brown,  sinewy  hand  of  the  King. 
There  was  an  instant's  silence — a  man's  silence.  Then 
Brand  continued  — 

"  Mr^Ellis,  our  Minister  there,  is  your  friend,  but  he 
is  a  weak,  colourless  creature,  and  he  gives  no  weight  or 
point  to  his  reports.  He  tries  hard  to  be  honest,  but  he 


1 88  THE  TRAITORS 

is  wofully  under  the  influence  of  the  others.  And  the 
others " 

"  I  know,"  the  King  interrupted.  "  Austria,  Ger- 
many, and  Russia  have  come  to  a  secret  understanding, 
and  somehow  I  fancy  that  Turkey  is  involved  in  it.  But 
what  pretext  they  can  find  for  movement  against  me,  or 
from  what  quarter  I  am  to  expect  the  aggression  I  can- 
not say." 

"  It  is  what  I  have  just  discovered,"  Brand  said. 

The  King's  eyes  flashed.  He  was  a  brave  man,  but 
the  cloud  of  doubt  had  been  stupefying.  It  was  this 
knowledge  for  which  he  craved. 

"  It  is  Russia  who  is  the  moving  spirit,"  Brand  continued. 

"  Russia,  of  course,"  the  King  exclaimed,  bitterly. 
"  An  independent  Theos  has  always  been  against  her 
policy.  She  debauched  the  Republic,  she  tried — as  you 
well  know,  Brand — to  make  my  accession  a  virtual 
Russian  protectorate." 

"  And,  further,"  Brand  said,  "  she  has  actually  in 
London  stooped  to  this.  Our  paper  has  been  approached 
by  an  agent  of  the  Russian  government  with  a  view  to 
purchasing  a  cessation  of  our  support  of  you.  I  myself, 
your  Majesty,  feel  myself  deeply  to  blame.  Weeks  ago 
I  could  have  warned  you  that  DomilofF  was  still  in  the 
capital  plotting  against  you.  I  kept  silent.  I  beg  that 
you  will  not  ask  me  why.  The  news  which  has  brought 
me  here  now  has  come  by  cipher  telegram  from  my  chief. 
A  secret  treaty  has  been  signed  between  Russia  and 
Turkey.  The  terms  I  do  not  know,  but  Turkey  is  left 
free  to  attack  you  at  once,  and  she  is  already  moving 
troops  and  guns  to  the  frontier." 


THE  TRAITORS  189 

"  Germany  ?  "  Ughtred  asked,  quickly. 

"  Is  pledged  to  neutrality — also  Austria.  The  only 
European  country  which  has  not  come  to  terms  with 
Russia  is  England." 

The  King  rose  from  his  chair,  and  walked  restlessly 
up  and  down  the  room.  His  eyes  were  flashing,  and  the 
lines  about  his  mouth  were  hard  and  bitter. 

"  It's  a  brave  game — politics,"  he  cried.  u  To-day 
we  read  our  ancient  history,  and  thank  the  gods  for  civi- 
lization. It's  a  huge  fraud,  Brand.  What  they  did  in 
those  days  with  fire  and  the  sword  they  do  to-day  by 
craft  and  secret  treaties,  by  falsehood  and  deceit.  It's  a 
world  of  rapine  still.  It  is  only  the  methods  which  have 
changed — and  changed  for  the  worse." 

Brand  nodded  slowly. 

"  Listen,"  he  said.  "  My  chief  has  had  an  interview 
with  one  of  our  Cabinet  Ministers.  He  has  listened  to 
all  he  had  to  say,  and  I  believe  that  the  state  of  affairs 
here  will  be  fairly  represented  to  the  English  Govern- 
ment. But,  to  be  frank,  I  am  afraid  there  will  be  no 
intervention  from  England.  She  may  sympathize,  but 
she  will  not  deem  her  interests  sufficiently  involved  to 
interfere." 

u  Have  you  any  idea,"  Ughtred  asked,  "  when  there 
will  be  any  movement  on  the  part  of  Turkey,  and  what 
the  casus  belli  will  be  ?  " 

u  The  blow  may  be  struck  at  any  moment,"  Brand 
answered.  "  I  am  afraid  my  warning  comes  too  late  to 
afford  you  time  for  preparations." 

The  King  smiled. 

u  I  am  not  a  child,  my  dear  Brand,"  he  said.     "  Sooner 


i9o  THE  TRAITORS 

or  later  I  felt  that  the  thing  must  come,  and  instinct 
seemed  to  tell  me  from  what  quarter.  I  will  let  you  into 
a  secret,  my  friend.  If  the  Turks  raid  my  three  frontier 
villages  they  may  possibly  find  themselves  a  little  sur- 
prised." 

A  smile  illumined  Brand's  serious  face. 

"  You'll  make  a  fight  for  it,  then  ?  "  he  asked,  eagerly. 

Ughtred  rose  up.  His  eyes  were  lit  with  inward  fire, 
and  in  his  tone  there  trembled  a  note  of  splendid  passion. 

"  A  fight  for  it !  Ay,  we  shall  fight  in  such  a  way, 
my  friend,  that  all  Europe  shall  hide  her  face,  and  feel 
the  shame  of  the  carnage  and  misery  for  which  her 
miserable  selfishness  is  responsible.  There  is  one  thing 
about  my  people,  Brand,  which  is  divine,  and,  thank 
God,  it  is  in  my  own  blood,  too,  notwithstanding  my 
years  of  exile.  We  love  our  country,  our  hills  and 
mountains,  our  corn-fields  and  vineyards,  our  villages 
and  our  queer  old  towns.  It's  a  wonderful  love,  Brand, 
and  I  don't  believe  you  highly-civilized  people  in  your 
rich,  smoke-stained  Western  countries  know  what  it 
means.  I  tell  you  it's  a  passion  here.  We  Thetians 
love  our  country  as  we  love  our  womenkind.  The  foot- 
step of  the  invader  is  seduction — when  it  comes  there 
will  be  lit  such  a  fire  of  passionate  hate  from  the  Balkans 
to  the  northern  frontier  that  only  death  or  victory  will 
quench.  You  will  see  them  come  to  arms,  Brand,  these 
children  of  mine,  whom  God  protect,  young  and  old, 
boys  and  their  grandfathers  !  A  fight  for  it,  did  you 
say  ?  I  promise  you,  man,  that  if  this  blow  falls,  and 
we  are  conquered,  you  shall  come  here  afterwards,  and  you 
shall  find  an  empty  country,  a  blackened  chaos  of  ruins." 


THE  TRAITORS  191 

An  answering  flash  of  enthusiasm  lit  up  Brand's  face 
for  a  moment.  But  the  man  was  practical  to  the  core. 

"  What  number  of  trained  men  can  you  rely  upon  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"  Fifteen  thousand,"  the  King  answered.  "  I  know 
every  village  company.  Every  regiment  I  have  drilled 
myself.  They  have  old  Martinis,  but  they  are  born 
shots,  and  born  horsemen.  Lately,  too,  we  have  gone 
through  a  course  of  carbine  instruction.  I  could  put 
five  thousand  mounted  infantry  into  the  field  who  could 
surprise  you." 

"  And  artillery  ?  " 

The  King  groaned. 

"  We  have  done  what  we  could,"  he  answered,  "  but 
as  for  heavy  guns,  we  have  none.  Listen,  I  will  give 
you  a  sketch  of  my  idea  for  defending  the  Balkans." 

The  King  talked  quickly  and  clearly.  There  was  no 
more  trace  of  the  enthusiast,  nor,  indeed,  did  he  betray 
again  during  all  the  anxious  days  to  come  that  more 
passionate  side  of  the  man  which  Brand's  few  words 
seemed  to  have  quickened  into  life.  He  talked  now  as 
the  cool  and  skilful  strategist.  Brand,  who  was  some- 
thing of  an  amateur  soldier  himself,  listened  with  keen 
interest. 

"  And  you  ?  "  the  King  asked  at  last. 

Brand  smiled. 

"  I  am  here  to  see  that  the  things  which  are  coming 
are  fairly  reported  from  one  quarter,  at  least,"  he  an- 
swered. "  I  am  going  to  stay,  and  if  the  trouble  comes 
I  am  correspondent  for  the  New  York  Herald,  as  well  as 
the  Daily  Courier" 


i92  THE  TRAITORS 

ct  That  is  very  good  news,"  the  King  said.  "  England 
and  America  are  the  champions  of  freedom  throughout 
the  world.  I  have  fought  for  England,  and  if  this  wrong 
[  is  done  to  me  I  shall  appeal  to  her  for  justice." 

A  knock  at  the  door.  A  young  officer  on  the  King's 
staff  saluted. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Turkish  Ambassador  craves  the 
privilege  of  an  immediate  audience,"  he  announced.  , 


,. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

EFFENDEN  PASCHA  was  breathless,  and  for  such  a 
phlegmatic  individual  seemed  to  be  much  disturbed. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  I  am  here  on  a  serious 
errand." 

The  King  bowed. 

"  Proceed,  Effenden  Pascha." 

"  Your  Majesty  has  heard  the  news  from  Bekal  ? " 

Ughtred  shook  his  head. 

"  I  have  heard  nothing  !  " 

The  Turk  raised  his  hands.     It  was  incredible  ! 

"  Yesterday,"  he  announced,  "  a  party  of  my  Turks 
riding  harmlessly  along  the  frontier  were  attacked  with- 
out warning  by  a  large  company  of  mounted  Thetians, 
and  cut  to  pieces." 

"  It  is  amazing,"  the  King  declared.  "  Was  no  prov- 
ocation given  ?  Were  the  Turks  unarmed  ?  " 

Effenden  Pascha  was  clear  on  both  points.  They 
were  simply  a  party  of  surveyors  accompanied  by  a  few 
soldiers.  They  were  set  upon  without  the  slightest 
warning. 

"  It  is  strange,"  the  King  remarked,  "  that  I  should 
have  heard  nothing  of  this.  It  is  stranger  still,  Effenden 
Pascha,  that  in  my  own  capital  you  should  first  have  re- 
ceived tidings  of  such  gravity." 

The  yellow-skinned  Turk  did  not  flinch.  He  bore 
the  thrust  without  the  least  sign  of  disquietude. 


I94  THE  TRAITORS 

"  I  myself,"  he  announced,  "  heard  only  by  telegrams 
from  Bekal  ten  minutes  ago.  One  of  the  survivors 
galloped  post-haste  thither  immediately  after  the  affair. 
I  have  hastened  to  present  the  demands  of  my  master  the 
Sultan." 

"  You  lose  no  time,"  Ughtred  remarked,  quietly. 

The  Turk  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  The  affair  is  of  great  importance,"  he  said.  "  My 
master  will  demand  the  execution  of  capital  punishment 
upon  all  the  leaders,  and  an  indemnity  of  ten  million 
piastres." 

"  Your  august  master,"  Ughtred  remarked,  "  has  lost 
no  time  in  formulating  his  demands.  My  reply  to  you 
is  this.  Immediately  I  learn  the  details  of  the  affair  I 
will  consider  your  proposal." 

The  Ambassad'or,  who  had  remained  standing,  bowed. 

"  That  is  to  say,"  he  remarked,  softly,  "  that  at 
present  you  decline  to  offer  me  my  satisfaction  or  to 
discuss  the  matter  with  me." 

"  Exactly,"  Ughtred  answered.  "  If  the  affair  turns 
out  according  to  your  telegram  I  shall  at  once  offer  to 
you  my  profound  regrets,  and  such  reparation  as  is 
within  my  power.  I  will  communicate  with  you  di- 
rectly I  hear." 

The  Ambassador  bowed  once  more,  and  there  was  a 
steely  glint  in  his  eyes. 

"  I  fear,"  he  said,  "  that  the  delay  will  not  be  pleasing 
to  my  august  master  !  " 

"  It  is  unavoidable,"  the  King  answered.  "  You  agree 
with  me,  Brand  ?  " 

Brand,  who  had  been  sitting  in  the  alcove  before  a 


THE  TRAITORS  195 

writing-table  hidden  by  a  curtain,  looked  out  and  as- 
sented gravely. 

"  Most  certainly,  your  Majesty." 

The  Turk  started.     His  eyes  flashed. 

"  So  !  "  he  exclaimed.     "  We  have  been  overheard." 

"  Mr.  Brand  is  an  Englishman  of  distinction,"  the 
King  said,  softly.  "  I  have  appointed  him  for  the 
present  my  private  secretary.  All  affairs  of  State,  there- 
fore, are  known  to  him." 

The  Turk  bowed  low.  It  was  no  fool,  after  all,  then, 
with  whom  he  had  to  do.  He  went  out  thoughtfully. 
The  presence  of  the  Englishman  had  impressed  him. 
In  the  council  room  he  passed  the  Duke  of  Reist  hurry- 
ing through  to  the  presence  of  the  King. 

"  Effenden  Pascha,"  he  said,  "  will  you  wait  for  a 
moment.  A  dispatch  has  arrived  concerning  which  the 
King  will  desire  to  see  you  at  once." 

Effenden  Pascha  smiled,  and  took  a  chair  in  the  ante- 
room beyond.  He  smoked  a  cigarette  thoughtfully, 
and  drank  the  coffee  which  a  groom  of  the  chambers 
hastened  to  bring  him.  In  ten  minutes  Reist  reappeared. 

"  Will  you  come  with  me  ?  "  he  said. 

Effenden  Pascha  threw  down  his  cigarette,  and  fol- 
lowed. 

The  King  had  moved  into  the  Council  Chamber,  and 
sat  at  the  table  with  an  open  telegraph  dispatch  before 
him.  Baron  Doxis,  the  President  of  the  House  of 
Laws,  was  on  one  side  of  him,  and  Brand  on  the  other. 
Effenden  Pascha  knew  very  well  what  was  coming. 
The  King  looked  at  him,  and  there  was  an  added  sense 
of  power  in  the  grave,  soldierly  face. 


196  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Effenden  Pascha,  we  too  have  received  a  telegram 
from  Bekal.  Its  contents  are  briefly  these.  Bekal,  an 
unfortified  village  of  Theos,  was  last  night  attacked  by 
a  large  armed  body  of  Turks,  who  proceeded  to  rob, 
murder,  and  outrage  in  the  most  barbarous  fashion. 
My  regard,  however,  for  the  safety  of  my  frontier  towns 
has  led  me  lately  to  station  bodies  of  mounted  troops 
within  signalling  distance  of  Bekal,  and  my  dispatch 
informs  me  that  in  the  fight  which  followed  your  troops 
were  driven  across  the  frontier  with  heavy  losses. 
You  will  see,  EfFenden  Pascha,  that  my  report  and  yours 
differ."  ;/ 

The  Turk  smiled  incredulously.  The  reports  most 
certainly  did  differ. 

"  Now,"  the  King  continued,  "  if  your  report  is  the 
true  one,  I  wfll  hold  myself  responsible  for  all  the  evil 
that  has  been  done.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  mine  is  true, 
I  shall  at  once  formulate  demands  which  I  shall  request 
you  to  lay  before  your  august  master.  Now,  I  invite 
you,  in  order  that  the  truth  may  be  placed  beyond  doubt, 
to  accompany  an  envoy  from  this  court  to  Bekal  by 
special  train  to-day,  and  there  agree  as  to  what  has 
really  happened." 

Effenden  Pascha  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I  must  await  the  instructions  of  my  master,  your 
Majesty,"  he  answered,  calmly. 

"  You  decline  his  Majesty's  proposal,  then  ? "  Reist 
asked  quietly. 

The  Turk  was  silent.  The  meddlesome  Englishman's 
pen  was  in  the  ink.  His  presence  was  disastrous. 

u  I   do   not   decline — no,"    he  answered.     "  I  await 


THE  TRAITORS  197 

only  a  dispatch  from  Constantinople.  I  fear  that  your 
intelligence  department  is  at  fault.  There  has  been  no 
foray  on  the  part  of  the  Turks.  My  master  desires 
peace  above  all  things." 

Ughtred  smiled. 

"  You  say  that  your  master  desires  peace  above  all 
things,"  he  said.  "  Let  me  see  what  our  intelligence 
department  has  to  say.  Since  the  day  of  my  accession 
to  the  throne  you  have  concentrated  within  twenty 
miles  of  my  frontier  nearly  thirty  thousand  men.  Day 
by  day  this  work  of  moving  up  troops  has  been  going  on. 
Last  week  trains  were  running  all  night  to  Bekal  with 
war  material  and  arms.  What  does  this  mean,  Effenden 
Pascha  ? " 

The  Turk  was  dumfounded.  The  King's  gaze  was 
keen  and  close.  He  visibly  faltered. 

"  Your  Majesty's  intelligence  department  has  magni- 
fied a  few  harmless  movements  of  troops,"  he  said. 
"  We  have  internal  troubles  in  the  northern  provinces 
which  require  strong  garrisons." 

"  But  not  thirty  thousand  men,  Effenden  Pascha," 
the  King  said. 

The  Turk  bowed. 

"  With  your  permission,"  he  said,  "  I  will  now  go 
and  lay  before  the  Sultan,  my  master,  your  explanation 
of  the  Bekal  incident." 

"  We  shall  ourselves,"  the  King  answered,  "  be  re- 
quiring an  explanation  of  that  unprovoked  attack  upon 
our  territory." 

The  Turk  bowed  and  withdrew.  The  three  men 
were  left  alone. 


198  THE  TRAITORS 

"  The  situation  is  fairly  clear,  I  think,"  the  King 
said.  "  Turkey  is  to  be  Russia's  catspaw — we  are  to  be 
the  chestnuts.  One  great  point  is  in  our  favour.  The 
onus  of  an  unprovoked  invasion  must  rest  with  Turkey. 
Brand  will  see  the  facts  correctly  stated  in  the  English 
and  American  papers.  We  had  better  send  to  the 
barracks  at  once,  Reist,  for  the  General,  and  hold  a 
council  of  war." 

There  followed  an  hour's  anxious  consultation.  Then 
the  King,  without  any  attendant,  as  was  his  custom, 
left  the  Palace  by  the  side  entrance,  and  amidst  the 
respectful  salutations  of  the  passers  by  walked  across  to 
the  villa  which  Mr.  Van  Decht  had  rented.  Mr.  Van 
Decht  and  Sara  were  sitting  in  the  garden.  He 
accepted  the  chair  they  offered  him,  and  lit  a  cigar 
mechanically. 

"  Mr.  Van  Decht,"  he  said,  abruptly,  "  I  regret  ex- 
ceedingly that  I  have  encouraged  you  to  make  invest- 
ments in  my  country.  I  did  it  for  the  best.  It  was  for 
the  advantage  of  my  people,  and  I  hoped  for  yours. 
I  told  you  of  the  one  risk.  I  fear  that  it  has  come  to 
pass." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  was  unmoved.  Sara  turned  upon  him 
breathlessly. 

u  Do  you  mean  war  ?  "  she  exclaimed. 

He  nodded. 

"  It  seems  that  our  great  neighbours,"  he  said,  "  resent 
our  independence.  Our  chief  enemy  is  Russia.  In 
pursuance,  I  am  convinced,  of  a  secret  understanding 
with  her,  Turkey  is  on  the  point  of  declaring  war  upon 
us." 


,. 


THE  TRAITORS  199 

"  Then  all  I  can  say  is  that  it  is  a  darned  shame/' 
Mr.  Van  Decht  declared,  hotly.  "  Don't  you  trouble 
yourself  about  my  investments.  If  the  Turks  disturb 
my  property  I  guess  my  country  will  know  how  to  make 
them  pay.  Your  Majesty,  those  Turks  must  be 
whipped." 

"  While  we've  a  yard  to  stand  upon  or  a  man  to  fight 
we  shall  do  our  best.  I  have  been  a  soldier,  as  you 
know,  all  my  life,  and  I  have  no  sentimental  hatred  of 
war.  But  my  country — ah  well,  it  is  so  different  when 
it  is  your  own  people  who  are  going  to  die  upon  their 
homesteads,  your  own  womenkind  who  must  go  sorrow- 
ing through  life  widowed  and  orphaned.  I  don't 
suppose  there  is  anything  particularly  beautiful  about 
Theos,"  the  King  continued,  thoughtfully,  "yet  to  me 
her  quiet  country  places,  her  vineyards  and  farms,  her 
whole  rural  life  has  seemed  so  simple  and  charming.  I 
have  seen  my  people  at  their  play  and  at  their  daily 
tasks,  a  cheerful,  honest  people,  light-hearted  and  fond 
of  pleasure  perhaps — why  not?  The  thought  of  a 
blackened  country,  her  vineyards  and  corn-fields  red 
with  blood,  the  homesteads  in  flames,  my  poor  peasants 
fighting  to  the  death  against  cruel  odds — it  is  hideous  ! 
I  do  not  dare  to  think  of  it  or  it  will  unman  me.  Only 
I  pray  to  the  God  of  our  fathers  that  this  thing  will 
not  seem  just  to  the  great  liberty-loving  nations  and 
that  they  will  not  see  us  wiped  out  from  the  face  of  the 
earth." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  Mr.  Van  Decht  was 
smoking  vigorously.  Sara  was  silent,  because  she  did 
not  dare  to  speak.  But  her  eyes  were  eloquent. 


200  THE  TRAITORS 

Ughtred  threw  away  his  cigar  which  had  gone  out,  and 
lit  another. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  "  I  am  getting  an  old  woman.  We 
must  take  the  more  cheerful  view  of  things.  I  came  to 
you  at  once,  because  I  wanted  to  give  you  as  much 
notice  as  possible." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  Sara  asked,  softly. 

"  I  mean  that  of  course  you  must  go  away,"  Ughtred 
answered.  "  I  cannot  tell  how  long  the  railway  com- 
munication will  remain  uninterrupted.  Mr.  Van 
Decht " 

He  turned  round  and  broke  off  in  his  speech.  Mr. 
Van  Decht  had  disappeared.  Sara  and  he  were  alone. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

UGHTRED  was,  on  the  whole,  a  man  ill  versed  in 
women's  ways.  Yet  even  he  was  conscious  of  a  subtle 
change  in  the  girl  who  sat  by  his  side.  The  frank 
friendliness  of  her  manner  towards  him,  which  had  been 
a  constant  barrier  against  any  suggestion  of  more  senti- 
mental relations,  was  for  the  moment  gone.  Her  eyes 
were  soft  and  her  face  was  eloquent  with  beautiful  and 
unspoken  sympathy.  The  change  was  indefinable,  but 
apparent.  Ughtred  felt  it,  and  sighed. 

"  This  may  be  the  last  talk  we  shall  have  together 
for  a  long  time,"  he  said,  gravely  ;  "  perhaps  forever.  I 
wonder  if  I  might  be  permitted — to  say  something, 
which  has  come  very  near  my  heart  lately." 

"You  may  say  anything  you  choose,"  she  murmured. 

"  You  know  that  lately  I  have  been  travelling  about 
my  country — trying  to  get  to  know  my  people  and  to 
understand  them.  I  will  tell  you,  Sara,  what  has  made 
the  greatest  impression  upon  me.  It  is  their  beautiful 
domesticity.  I  think  that  it  has  taught  me  to  under- 
stand a  little  how  much  fuller  and  sweeter  life  may  be 
when  one  has  a  wife  to  care  for,  and  to  help  one.  And, 
Sara,  I  think  that  I  too  have  been  often  lonely,  and  I 
too  have  needed  a  wife." 

"Yes!" 

It  was  no  more  than  a  whisper,  but  it  thrilled  the 
201 


202  THE  TRAITORS 

man.  He  touched  her  fingers — warm  and  soft,  they 
seemed  almost  to  invite  his  caress. 

"  Sara,  I  have  been  dreaming  since  then,  and  I 
thought  that  when  my  people  got  to  understand  me  a 
little  more,  to  trust  me  and  believe  in  me,  I  would  go  to 
them  and  say  '  I  am  going  to  give  you  a  Queen.  Only 
I  am  a  man  as  you  are  men,  and  I  must  choose  as  you 
have  chosen,  the  one  woman  who  has  my  heart.'  And, 
Sara,  there  might  have  been  difficulties,  but  I  think  that 
we  should  have  smoothed  them  away " 

"  If !  "  she  echoed. 

"  If  the  woman  I  love,  Sara,  cared  a  little  for  me." 

It  was  dusk,  and  Ughtred  scarcely  knew  how  it  hap- 
pened, but  she  was  in  his  arms  and  they  were  very 
happy.  It  was  dusk  then,  but  the  stars  were  shining 
when  the  cathedral  clock  reminded  him  that  his  love- 
making  must  be  brief. 

"  Dear,"  she  murmured,  "  if  you  must  go,  at  least 
remember  that  you  have  made  me.  very  happy." 

"  And  I,"  he  answered,  cheerfully,  "  am  afraid  no 
longer  of  anything.  I  have  become  a  raving  optimist. 
I  feel  that  if  the  war  comes  we  shall  sweep  the  Turks 
from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

She  held  out  her  hand  and  drew  him  to  her. 

"  You  will  not  repent  ?  "  she  murmured.  "  You  ought 
to  marry  a  princess." 

He  kissed  her  on  the  lips. 

"  Every  woman  in  the  world,"  he  answered,  "  is  a 
princess  to  the  man  who  loves  her.  You  are  my  prin- 
cess. There  will  never  be  any  other  !  " 

She  walked  with  him  towards  the  house. 


,- 


THE  TRAITORS  203 

"  I  ought  to  have  been  discussing  your  departure  with 
Mr.  Van  Decht,  and  instead  I  have  been  discussing 
other  things  with  you." 

"  Discussing  what  ?  " 

"  Your  departure  !  " 

She  laughed  softly. 

"  Do  you  think  that  we  are  going  away  ?  " 

"  You  must,"  he  answered,  sadly.  "  Theos  may  be 
no  safe  place  for  you  in  forty-eight  hours  even." 

She  pressed  his  arm  lightly. 

"  Dear,"  she  said,  "  you  are  foolish.  If  ever  I  am  to 
be  anything  to  you  and  these  people  what  would  they 
think  of  me  if  I  ran  away  when  evil  times  came  ?  But 
wait !  You  must  hear  what  father  says.  He  knows 
nothing  of  this." 

They  found  him  in  the  room  he  called  his  study.  He 
looked  up  from  his  desk  as  they  entered. 

"  Father,"  Sara  said,  "  the  King  wants  us  to  leave  to- 
morrow morning.  In  forty-eight  hours  he  says  the  city 
may  be  in  danger." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  wheeled  round  in  his  recently  im- 
ported American  chair,  and  puffed  vigorously  at  his 
cigar. 

"  I  wasn't  reckoning  upon  leaving  just  yet,"  he  re- 
marked, quietly.  "  Were  you,  Sara  ?  " 

"  No !  " 

Ughtred  looked  from  one  to  the  other. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  don't  quite  understand  the  situation, 
Mr.  Van  Decht.  I  do  not  think  it  probable  of  course, 
but  it  is  possible  that  the  city  may  be  surrounded  in  less 
than  a  week." 


204  THE  TRAITORS 

Mr.  Van  Decht  nodded. 

"  I  guess  it  isn't  quite  so  bad  as  that,"  he  answered. 
"In  any  case,  I'd  like  you  to  understand  this.  We've 
had  a  pretty  good  time  here,  and  we  haven't  any  idea  of 
scuttling  out  just  because  things  aren't  exactly  booming. 
I've  a  tidy  idea  of  engineering,  and  I  think  I  can  show 
you  a  wrinkle  or  two  in  trench-making.  Then  there's 
another  thing — you'll  allow  a  man's  a  right  to  do  what 
he  pleases  with  his  own  money  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  suppose  so,"  Ughtred  answered. 

"  Well,  I'm  not  given  to  bragging,"  Mr.  Van  Decht 
continued,  "  but  I  reckon  I'm  one  of  the  richest  men  in 
the  States.  Accordingly,  as  I'm  sort  of  a  resident  here 
I  claim  the  right  to  help  the  war  fund.  I've  put  a 
million  to  your  credit  at  the  Credit  Lyonnaise,  and  if 
more's  wanted — there's  plenty.  I  don't  want  any 
thanks ;  I  don't  mind  telling  you  that  I'd  give  a  lot 
more  to  see  those  low-down  skunks  get  the  whipping 
they  deserve." 

Ughtred  was  for  a  moment  speechless.  It  was  Sara 
who  replied  for  him. 

"  We  are  very  much  obliged,  father,"  she  said,  smil- 
ing at  him.  "  You  don't  mind,  do  you  ?  " 

He  looked  from  one  to  the  other.  He  did  not  affect 
any  surprise,  but  his  face  was  grave. 

"  Sara  has  promised  that  some  day  if  we  are  spared 
she  will  be  my  wife,"  Ughtred  said,  simply.  "  I  hope 
that  you  will  consent." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  nodded  thoughtfully. 

"  I  had  an  idea,"  he  said,  hesitatingly,  "  that  you 
would  be  not  exactly  a  free  agent  in  such  a  matter." 


,. 


THE  TRAITORS  205 

Ughtred  smiled. 

"  My  kingdom  is  a  tiny  one,"  he  answered,  "  and  I 
do  not  think  after  a  while  that  there  will  be  any  diffi- 
culty at  all." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  rose  from  his  chair  and  shook  hands 
solemnly  with  the  young  man. 

"  I  wasn't  reckoning  upon  having  a  King  for  a  son- 
in-law,"  he  said,  "  but  I  know  a  man  when  I  see  him, 
and  if  it  works  out  to  be  possible  you  can  take  my  con- 
sent for  granted.  Sara  is  the  daughter  of  plain  people 
with  no  family  to  boast  of,  but  I  tell  you  this,  sir,  I 
am  a  man  with  few  wants,  and  I  will  give  Sara  the 
largest  dowry  that  has  ever  been  given  by  prince  or 
commoner.  I  reckon  I'm  worth  five  million  pounds,  and 
I'll  settle  four  and  a  half  upon  her.  Theos  wants 
money,  and  that  may  take  things  a  bit  smoother  in  case 
of  trouble." 

"  You  are  magnificently  generous,  sir !  "  Ughtred  an- 
swered. "  I  am  afraid  that  nowadays  a  bride  with 
such  a  dowry  would  rank  above  princesses." 

The  cathedral  clock  chimed  again.  Ughtred  tore 
himself  away.  Reist  met  him  at  the  door.  His  eyes 
blazing  with  excitement. 

"  Effenden  Pascha  has  left  the  city  !  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  The  Turks  are  streaming  over  the  frontier — Bushnieff 
has  wired  for  reinforcements." 

"  The  supply  trains  are  waiting  ?  "  Ughtred  asked, 
quickly. 

"  With  steam  up  !  " 

u  Your  carriage  quickly.  To  the  barracks  !  "  Ugh- 
tred exclaimed.  . 


CHAPTER  XXX 

ALL  night  long  the  war-beacons  of  Theos  reddened 
the  sky  and  the  thunder  of  artillery  woke  strange  echoes 
amongst  the  mountains.  There  were  three  passes  only 
through  which  the  Turks  could  force  their  way  into  the 
fertile  plain  which  stretched  from  Theos  southwards, 
and  each  one,  to  their  surprise,  was  found  well  guarded 
and  fortified.  A  simultaneous  advance  was  repulsed 
with  heavy  loss.  At  Solika  only,  on  the  far  east,  where 
the  veteran  General  Kolashin  was  in  command,  the  first 
position  was  carried,  but  this  temporary  success  was 
counterbalanced  by  {he  immense  losses  inflicted  on  the 
advancing  columns  from  the  second  and  more  secure 
line  of  fortifications.  Across  the  plain  a  light  railway 
from  Theos  all  night  long  brought  reinforcements  and 
stores  to  the  different  positions.  Ughtred  himself,  by 
means  of  an  engine  and  fast  horses,  visited  before  day- 
break the  three  points  of  attack.  He  was  present  and 
himself  directed  the  successful  resistance  at  Solika.  He 
returned  to  Theos  at  daybreak  hopeful,  and  even  with  a 
certain  sense  of  relief  that  the  worst  had  now  come  to 
pass. 

Still  in  his  uniform,  stained  with  blood  and  dust,  the 
King  sat  at  a  small  writing-table  in  his  retiring-room 
reading  the  day's  letters  and  telegrams.  Already  he  had 
been  busy  with  tongue  and  pen.  His  appeal  for  inter- 
vention, couched  in  dignified  and  measured  terms,  had 

206 


THE  TRAITORS  207 

been  written,  signed,  and  dispatched  by  special  messenger 
to  England,  France,  and  Germany.  For  Ughtred  had  a 
very  keen  sense  of  proportion.  Courageous  though  he 
was,  and  confident  in  the  bravery  of  his  people,  he 
knew  that  his  resistance  unaided  could  only  be  a  matter 
of  time. 

Hiram  Van  Decht,  now  a  privileged  person  at  the 
palace,  came  in  to  him  as  he  sat  there. 

"  I  guess  you  don't  want  to  be  bothered  just  now,"  he 
remarked,  apologetically,  "  but  Sara's  bound  to  know 
how  things  have  gone  so  far." 

Ughtred  wheeled  round  in  his  chair  and  welcomed  his 
visitor. 

"  Cigars  at  your  elbow,"  he  said.     "  Help  yourself." 

Van  Decht  disregarded  the  invitation.  He  looked 
steadily  at  the  King.  Then  he  rang  the  bell. 

"  You'll  forgive  the  liberty,  I  know,"  he  said,  "  but  I'm 
going  to  tell  that  flunkey  of  yours  to  fetch  a  flask  of 
wine,  and  see  you  drink  some." 

Ughtred  smiled. 

"  I  was  just  going  to  order  something,"  he  said. 
"  I've  had  a  hard  night.  So  far  nothing  has  gone  amiss. 
Our  outposts  were  rushed  at  Solika,  but  our  main  posi- 
tion was  easily  held." 

Van  Decht  nodded. 

"  That's  good  !     Any  fighting  at  Althea  Pass  ?  " 

"  We  are  being  heavily  shelled  there  and  at  Morania, 
but  I  consider  that  both  places  are  almost  impregnable. 
Solika  is  where  we  must  concentrate.  You  see  we  have 
treachery  to  fear  there.  It  is  a  frontier  town  and  full 
of  small  Russian  traders.  Reist  is  garrisoning  the  place, 


208  THE  TRAITORS 

and  General  Dartnoff  is  in  command  of  the  forces 
holding  the  Pass.  Just  now  everything  is  quiet.  I 
fancy  they  are  waiting  to  bring  up  more  heavy  guns." 

Van  Decht  lit  a  cigar  meditatively. 

"  This  is  what  beats  me,"  he  remarked.  "  I  can 
never  figure  out  your  European  politics,  but  I  should 
never  have  thought  that  England  and  Germany  would 
have  allowed  a  small,  unoffending  country  to  be  overrun 
and  grabbed  by  a  lot  of  heathery  infidels." 

Ughtred  sighed. 

"  It  is  hard  to  understand,"  he  said.  "  Only  you 
must  remember  this.  Selfishness  is  the  keynote  of  inter- 
national politics,  as  of  many  other  things.  A  single 
Power  is  always  afraid  of  moving  for  fear  of  disturbing 
the  balance  of  nations.  Besides,  they  all  know  that  this 
is  no  war  between  Turkey  and  Theos.  It  is  Russia 
who  is  pulling  the  strings." 

"  That's  all  right,"  Mr.  Van  Decht  admitted,  "  but  I 
should  say  that  you've  a  sort  of  a  claim  on  England. 
You're  half  an  Englishman,  anyway.  You've  fought 
her  battles.  She's  big  enough  to  give  you  a  lift." 

"  If  help  comes  from  anywhere,"  Ughtred  answered, 
"  it  will  come  from  England.  I  have  appealed  to  the 
Powers,  and  to  England  especially.  Mr.  Ellis  has  al- 
ready been  here,  and  he  is  representing  my  case  strongly." 

Wine  was  brought  in,  and  food.  Ughtred  ate  little, 
but  smoked  a  cigar. 

"  What's  the  next  move  ?  "  Mr.  Van  Decht  asked. 

"  Well,  I  am  waiting  now  for  news  from  Reist,"  the 
King  said.  "We  are  in  telegraphic  communication 
with  Solika,  and  I  can  get  there  on  my  engine  in  an 


THE  TRAITORS  209 

hour.  So  long  as  we  can  hold  Solika  we  are  safe,  for  I 
do  not  think  that  we  can  possibly  be  outflanked.  Our 
whole  southern  frontier  only  extends  for  forty  miles,  and 
there  are  only  two  practicable  passes." 

"  Reist  anything  of  a  soldier  ? "  Mr.  Van  Decht 
asked  after  a  brief  silence. 

"  For  this  sort  of  work — excellent !  "  Ughtred  an- 
swered. 

"You  trust  him?" 

"  As  myself.  I  never  knew  a  man  more  devoted  to 
his  country.  It  is  his  religion  !  Why  do  you  ask  ?  " 

Van  Decht  took  his  cigar  from  his  mouth  and  regarded 
it  thoughtfully. 

"  Sara  doesn't  like  him  !  " 

The  King  laughed. 

"  He's  no  lady's  man." 

"  Sara  has  instinct,"  her  father  remarked.  "  Can't 
say  1  take  to  him  myself.  There's  a  kink  in  the  man 
somewhere." 

Ughtred  smiled. 

"  Well,  it  isn't  in  his  loyalty  or  his  bravery,"  Ughtred 
answered.  "  He  is  my  best  soldier,  my  most  capable 
adviser,  and  I  owe  him  my  kingdom." 

Van  Decht  abandoned  the  subject. 

"  I'll  get  along,"  he  said,  rising.  "  Take  my  advice. 
Lie  down  a  bit  till  your  message  comes  along.  You're 
looking  pretty  bad." 

Ughtred  smiled. 

"The  first  day  of  war,"  he  said,  "even  on  a  small 
scale,  is  the  most  wearing.  Later  on  we  shall  take 
things  more  easily.  Only  you  must  remember,  sir,  that 


210  THE  TRAITORS 

it  is  for  the  liberty  of  an  ancient  kingdom  we  fight,  not 
only  for  our  own  lives,  but  for  the  happiness  of  unborn 
generations.  I  would  sooner  see  Theos  blotted  out  for- 
ever from  the  map  of  Europe  and  the  memory  of  man 
than  have  her  exist  a  vassal  state  of  Russia." 

Mr.  Van  Decht  departed  in  respectful  silence.  If 
tradition  or  sentiment  appealed  to  him  but  slightly,  he 
knew  an  honest  man  by  instinct,  and  he  was  fast 
drifting  into  a  very  close  sympathy  with  his  future 
son-in-law. 

There  came  word  from  Reist  within  the  hour. 
Ughtred  tore  open  the  envelope  and  spread  out  the 
cipher-book  before  him. 

"  No  signs  of  movement  on  part  of  enemy.  Scouts 
report  big  guns  being  mounted  on  positions  commanding 
ours.  Solika  restless.  Have  hung  two  spies.  General 
Dartnoff  desires  council  of  war  this  afternoon."  -. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

BEFORE  the  great  high  window,  Marie  of  Reist 
watched  the  red  fires  flaring  in  the  mountains  and  list- 
ened to  the  far-off  booming  of  the  guns.  Behind  her 
the  room  was  in  darkness,  for  she  had  turned  out  the 
lamps  to  see  more  clearly  into  the  night.  So  when  a 
voice  at  her  elbow  roused  her  she  started  with  a  sudden 
fear. 

"  Countess,  you  hear  the  war-note  yonder !  Listen 
again  !  Those  guns  are  sounding  the  knell  of  the 
House  of  Tyrnaus." 

She  recovered  herself — yet  she  was  amazed. 

"  Baron  DomilofF!     What,  are  you  still  in  Theos  ?  " 

"  Still  in  Theos,  Countess.  I  remain  here  to  the 
end." 

"  But  you  were  banished,"  she  exclaimed. 

He  smiled  inscrutably. 

"Yes,"  he  answered.  "I  was  banished — by  Ughtred 
of  Tyrnaus.  Still,  as  you  see,  I  remain.  To  tell  you 
the  truth,  Countess,  it  did  not  seem  worth  my  while  to 
go — for  so  short  a  time." 

"  You  must  be  a  master  in  the  art  of  corruption,"  she 
remarked. 

"  Indeed  no,"  he  assured  her.  "  There  are  a  few  of 
my  country  people  in  the  city.  There  are  also  Thetians 
who  understand  that  the  Tyrnaus  dynasty  is  only  a  pass- 
ing thing." 

211 


212  THE  TRAITORS 

"  I  am  not  so  sure,"  she  answered,  "  that  I  agree  with 
you.  They  say  that  he  is  a  skilful  and  gallant  soldier, 
and  we  of  Theos  love  brave  men.  An  hour  ago  he  rode 
back  to  the  palace,  his  uniform  stained  with  dust  and 
blood,  and  the  people  cheered  him  like  mad  things. 
They  say  that  he  has  driven  the  Turks  back  at  all 
points." 

Domiloff  smiled. 

"  Dear  lady,"  he  said,  "  the  successes  of  to-day  or  to- 
morrow are  of  no  account.  The  Turks  are  mounting 
great  guns  in  positions  which  must  command  every 
point  where  the  Thetians  are  covering  the  passes.  The 
end  of  it  is  as  certain  as  a  mathematical  problem.  Be- 
fore a  month  has  passed  Theos  must  sue  for  peace  or 
admit  the  Turks  to  the  city." 

"You  are  very  certain." 

"  Warfare  to-day,"  he  answered,  "  can  be  determined 
on  mathematical  lines.  Bravery  is  a  delightful  quality 
in  the  abstract,  but  brave  men  are  killed  as  easily  as 
cowards.  Tell  me,  have  you  spoken  with  your 
brother  ? " 

"Yes!" 

"  He  will  not  consent  to  this  Van  Decht  alliance  ?  " 

"  No  ! " 

Domiloff  smiled. 

"  It  is  good,"  he  answered.  "  I  think  that  the  time 
has  come  when  I  may  approach  him  myself." 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  He  is  wild  with  the  excitement  of  fighting,"  she 
said.  "  The  King  and  he  have  fought  together,  and 
Nicholas  speaks  of  him  as  a  brave  comrade  and  a 


THE  TRAITORS  213 

patriot.  Last  night  he  wrote  to  me  from  Solika,  and  he 
spoke  of  the  King  as  a  brother.  For  the  moment  he  has 
forgotten  all  about  the  Van  Decht  alliance.  Take  my 
advice — leave  Nicholas  alone." 

Domiloff  looked  out  into  the  night,  frowning  and 
thoughtful. 

"  When  the  tide  of  battle  changes,"  he  said,  "  your 
brother's  enthusiasm  will  wane.  He  will  remember  the 
slight  upon  you — upon  his  name." 

She  regarded  him  proudly. 

"  It  is  very  seldom,"  she  remarked,  "  that  you  permit 
me  to  forget  it." 

He  smiled.  The  sight  of  his  white  teeth  gleaming  in 
the  twilight  filled  her  with  repulsion.  The  man  was 
like  a  wolf. 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  "  I  am  not  a  hypocrite.  I  am 
pledged  to  the  deposition  of  the  King,  and  you  are  my 
natural  ally,  for  it  is  your  brother  who  must  take  his 
place,  and  you  who  must  prevent  the  sacrilege  of  this 
proposed  marriage.  So  you  see  I  am  open  with  you. 
We  are  both  working  towards  the  same  end.  Therefore 
I  say,  let  us  work  together." 

They  were  silent  for  a  few  minutes  listening  to  the 
distant  roar  of  the  guns,  watching  the  lurid  lights  which 
every  now  and  then  lit  up  with  an  unholy  glare  that 
distant  background.  Then  she  turned  to  him. 

"  There  is  nothing,"  she  said,  "  which  I  can  do.  Be- 
sides, whilst  the  war  lasts  everything  else  seems  small. 
To  see  Theos  drive  back  the  infidels  and  retain  her 
freedom  I  would  be  content  even  to  let  things  remain, 
and  end  my  days  there  in  the  convent," 


214  THE  TRAITORS 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  Dear  lady,"  he  said,  "  you  were  not  made  for  a 
convent  any  more  than  Sara  Van  Decht  was  made  for  a 
throne.  Try  and  believe  in  me  a  little  more.  I,  too, 
desire  a  free  Theos.  You  are  a  woman,  and  you  have 
wit  and  courage.  Say  to  yourself  this.  It  is  necessary 
for  Theos  that  your  brother  and  the  King  should 
quarrel.  Keep  it  always  in  your  mind.  Remember 
that  your  brother's  anger  only  slumbers.  The  King 
has  insulted_jou  and  jour  House.  The  whole  history 
of  your  family  could  disclose  no  such  affront  tamely 
borne.  Besides,  there  is  your  friend — the  Englishman." 

She  turned  swiftly  upon  him. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Only  that  I  know  no  man  whose  future  I  would 
believe  in  more  readily  if  he  were  content  to  settle  down 
in  Theos.  Your  brother  could  see  to  it  that  it  was 
made  worth  his  while.  Tell  me — when  will  you  see 
the  Duke  of  Reist  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  to-night,"  she  answered,  straining  her  eyes 
through  the  darkness.  "  If  all  is  quiet  in  Solika  he  said 
that  he  might  return  for  a  few  hours." 

Domiloff  nodded. 

"  Very  well !  Remember  what  I  have  said  to  you, 
Countess.  A  rupture  between  your  brother  and  the 
King  will  save  Theos.  You  understand  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  in  a  low  tone.  "  I  under- 
stand." , 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

UGHTRED  sprang  to  his  feet.  He  was  half  asleep  and 
a  little  dazed — wholly  bewildered  at  the  apparition  which 
was  suddenly  sharing  the  solitude  of  his  chamber.  It 
was  Marie  of  Reist  who  stood  before  him  in  a  wonderful 
rose-coloured  gown  tied  loosely  around  her.  She  was 
paler  than  he  had  ever  seen  her — her  eyes  bright  with 
purpose — behind  the  open  panel. 

"  You  bring  news,"  he  cried.  "  Do  you  come  from 
Nicholas  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  I  know  nothing  of  Nicholas,"  she  answered.  "  I 
came  to  see  you." 

He  was  speechless.  Her  visit  seemed  to  him  amaz- 
ing, its  object  an  enigma. 

"I  wished  to  speak  to  you  alone.  Lately  it  has  been 
impossible.  Lock  your  door." 

He  obeyed,  but  he  returned  to  her  with  a  grave  face. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  "  think  for  a  moment.  It  is  better 
that  I  should  come  to  you.  To-morrow " 

She  interrupted  him  with  an  impatient  gesture.  At 
that  moment  the  roar  of  distant  artillery  was  distinctly 
audible. 

"There  may  be  no  to-morrow,"  she  answered.  "It 
is  for  the  sake  of  Theos  I  have  come.  You  must  hear 
me.". 

"  For  your  own  sake,  Countess,"  he  begged,  ear- 
"5 


216  THE  TRAITORS 

nestly,  "  I  beg  that  you  will  leave  me.  At  any  moment 
we  may  be  interrupted.  Messages  are  brought  to  me 
continually — and  the  hour  is  late." 

"  I  am  the  Countess  of  Reist,"  she  answered,  proudly, 
"  and  the  people  of  Theos  know  me.  I  have  come  to 
ask  you  a  question.  You  must  hear  me,  and  you  must 
answer  me." 

He  smiled. 

"You  are  a  little  peremptory,"  he  said.  "Never 
mind  !  The  question  ?  " 

"  There  have  been  rumours,  your  Majesty,  of  a  mar- 
riage between  you  and  the  American,  Miss  Van  Decht." 

He  looked  across  at  her  in  displeased  surprise. 

"  These  are  no  times  for  thought  or  speech  of  such 
things,"  he  answered. 

She  turned  upon  him  with  a  sudden  fierceness.  A 
spot  of  angry  colour  burned  in  her  cheeks. 

"  You  are  wrong,"  she  exclaimed.  "  I  have  come  to 
you  resolved  to  know  the  truth.  Listen,  your  Majesty. 
There  are  those  who  say  that  in  your  long  exile  you 
have  forgotten  all  that  is  due  to  your  birth  and  your 
country.  They  say  that  you  are  at  heart  a  democrat. 
That  it  is  in  your  mind  to  marry  this  daughter  of  an 
American  tradesman,  to  offer  her  to  the  people  of  Theos 
as  their  queen." 

"  It  is  true,"  he  answered.     "  What  of  it  ?  " 

She  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  as  though  stricken 
with  a  sudden  blow.  To  her  the  idea  was  heresy,  rank 
and  foul.  A  storm  of  indignant  passion  swept  through 
her. 

"  It  is  impossible,"  she  cried,  fiercely.    u  There J&_aol 


THE  TRAITORS  217 

a  lady  of  Theos  who  would  attend  ypur_CourtL_Jpo 
you  think  that  I — Marie  of  Reist,  would  kiss  the  hand 
of  this  Van  Decht  woman — I,  or  any  of  the  others  ? 
Oh,  it  is  madness." 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  quietly, "  we  will  choose  another 
time  for  the  discussion  of  this  matter.  You  must  for- 
give me  if  I  beg  that  you  will  leave  me." 

"  Another  time,"  she  answered.  "  Oh,  listen  !  You 
depend  at  this  moment  on  the  loyalty  of  Theos  to 
defend  your  throne.  Do  you  believe  that  you  could 
command  it  if  this  were  known  ?  In  the  mountains  the 
Turks  are  gathering  a  great  army,  in  the  city  there  is 
treachery.  Ah,  you  start,  but  my  words  are  true.  If 
the  words  which  you  have  spoken  to  me  had  been 
spoken  from  the  balcony  there  your  throne  would  have 
been  lost  forever." 

He  looked  at  her  curiously — not  altogether  unim- 
pressed. Treachery  !  What  did  she  mean  by  that  ? 
She  moved  a  step  nearer  to  him.  Underneath  her  loose 
gown  her  bosom  rose  and  fell  quickly.  Her  face  was 
flushed  and  her  eyes  brilliant. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  she  said,  "  do  you  know  that  by  all 
the  traditions  of  Theos  you  are  betrothed  to  me — that 
the  people  of  Theos  wait  day  by  day  for  the  announce- 
ment ? " 

He  looked  at  her  in  blank  amazement.  He  was 
bereft  of  words.  Her  eyes  flashed  fire  upon  him. 

"  It  is  an  insult — this  purpose  of  yours,"  she  cried. 
"_Ybu_and  I  have  drunk  together  from  the  King's  cup. 
It  has  been  the  betrothal  ceremony  in  the  royal  House 
of  Theos  for  generations.  You  a  stranger,  who  owe 


218  THE  TRAITORS 

your  very  throne  to  us,  have  dared  to  ignore  it — you, 
who  propose  to  raise  to  the  throne  of  the  most  ancient 
kingdom  of  Europe  a  woman  of  unknown  birth.  It  is 
a^n  infamy." 

"  Countess,"  he  answered,  "  you  know  quite  well  that 
I  was  ignorant  of  your  custom,  of  the  history  of  that  cup." 

14  There  are, .times,"  she  said,  fiercely,  "  when  igno- 
rance is  worse  than  crime.  No  man  yet,  even  a  king, 
has  lived  to  break  faith  with  the  House  of  Reist." 

He  had  recovered  himself-— and  he  remembered.  He 
addressed  her  steadily,  yet  with  a  growing  coldness  in 
his  tone. 

"  Is   it  your  wish  then,   Countess,  that  I   fulfil  jthe_ 
obligations  which  you  say  I  have  incurred  ? " 

Her  face  burned,  her  eyes  were  lit  with  fire.  He  had 
gained  an  advantage.  He  had  made  her  angry. 

"  It  is  a  brutal  question,"  she  cried,  "  but  quickly 
answered.  You  know  quite  well  that  if  it  were  so  I 
should  not  be  here.  No  !  I  would  not  marry  you— not 
even  to  be  Queen  of  Theos." 

"Then  why " 

"  Oh,  but  you  are  blind,"  she  interrupted,  passionately. 
41  You  understand  nothing.  I  repeat  that  I  would  not 
marry  you  to  be  Queen  of  Theos.  I  am  willing  to  be 
your  friend.  I  am  willing  to  forget  your  broken  pledge. 
But  listen  !  Theos  is  the  dearest  thing  on  earth  to  me.  I 
am  jealous  for  my  country,  not  for  myself.  I  will  not 
have  this  tradesman's  daughter  Queen  of  Theos.  Do 
you  think  that  I,  Marie  of  Reist,  would  follow  her  from 
the  room,  would  bend  my  knee  to  her,  would  call  her 
Queen  ?  It  is  madness  inconceivable.  I  speak  for 


THE  TRAITORS  219 

myself,  but  there  are  others  who  feel  as  I  feel.  It  would 
be  an  insult  to  every  royal  family  in  Europe.  These 
are  the  things  which  I  have  come  to  say.  You  must 
abandon  your  purpose,  or " 

"  Or  ?  " 

There  was  a  moment's  deep  silence.  She  shook  her 
head  very  slowly. 

"  There  is  not  a  noble  of  Theos,  your  Majesty,  who 
would  not  consider  himself  justified  in  rescinding  his 
oath  to  a  king  who  could  stoop  so  low." 

Ughtred  eyed  her  gravely. 

"Marie,"  he  said,  "you  are  a  peeress  of  Theos  in 
your  own  right,  and  as  such  you  yourself  have  taken  an 
oath  of  allegiance  to  me." 

"  It  is  true,  your  Majesty,"  she  answered,  coldly. 
"  And  I  tell  you  now  that  the  announcement  of  your  be- 
trothal to  Sara  Van  Decht  would  in  my  opinion  and  be- 
fore my  conscience  justify  me  in  breaking  that  oath. 
And  your  Majesty  must  remember  further  that  those  who 
are  not  with  you  are  against  you." 

The  King  sat  down  and  leaned  his  head  upon  his  hand. 
Was  this  really  how  the  people  of  Theos  would  regard 
his  marriage,  if  indeed  it  should  ever  come  to  pass  ? 
The  girl  was  so  terribly  in  earnest,  and  of  personal  feel- 
ing it  seemed  after  all  that  she  had  none.  A  cloud  crept 
over  his  face. 

"  It  is  a  threat,"  he  said,  quietly.  "  Countess,  I  beg 
that  you  will  leave  me.  I  will  think  over  all  that  you 
have  said,  and  I  will  discuss  it  fully  with  your  brother, 
and  my  other  advisers.  Forgive  me  if  I  add  that  I  think 
it  would  be  more  fitting." 


220  THE  TRAITORS 

He  pointed  to  the  open  panel.  She  held  up  her  head 
as  though  listening,  but  Ughtred  heard  nothing.  Then 
she  looked  once  more  at  the  King.  Something  in  his 
face  reminded  her  for  the  moment  of  the  man  whom  he 
resembled.  He  was  tired,  and  his  distress  touched  her 
heart.  She  moved  suddenly  over  to  his  side  and  dropped 
upon  her  knee.  The  heavy  sleeves  fell  back  from  her 
wrists,  her  white  ringers  touched  his  arms.  She  remem- 
bered that  they  had  been  young  together,  and  after  all 
the  destinies  of  Theos  were  largely  in  his  hands.  He 
looked  into  her  face  and  was  amazed  at  the  change. 
Her  tone  no  longer  shook  with  anger.  She  pleaded  to 
him. 

"Your  Majesty,  you  and  I  were  children  together. 
Listen  to  me.  I  have  lived  in  Theos  all  my  life,  and  the 
love  of  my  country  has  become  a  religion  to  me.  For 
her  sake,  listen.  You  must  not  think  any  more  of  Sara 
Van  Decht.  Your  marriage  would  be  impossible.  The 
House  of  Laws  would  not  permit  it,  the  nobility  of 
Theos,  of  whom  alas  there  are  but  few  left,  would  not 
tolerate  it.  I  am  speaking  the  truth  to  you.  As  for 
what  has  been  between  you  and  me  it  shall  go  for  noth- 
ing. I — listen — I  love  another  man.  Wait  for  a  few 
years,  and  then  seek  for  a  wife  where  the  royal  House  of 
Theos  has  the  right  to  seek.  I,  who  know,  tell  you  that 
this  is  your  duty — that  even  now  your  throne  is  in  peril 
that  you  know  nothing  of." 

For  the  fraction  of  a  second  Ughtred  hesitated,  seek- 
ing about  in  his  mind  only  how  best  to  terminate  a 
painful  situation.  And  that  brief  period  became  almost 
a  fatal  interlude,  for  she  saw  what  was  passing  in  his 


,. 


NICHOLAS   OF   REIST   STOOD   ON   THE   THRESHOLD. 


. 


THE  TRAITORS  221 

mind.  Then  a  low,  fierce  cry  came  to  them  from  the 
shadows  of  the  room.  Nicholas  of  Reist  stood  on  the 
threshold  of  the  open  panel,  his  drawn  sword  quivering 
in  his  hand. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

IT  was  a  curiously  deep  silence  which  reigned  for 
many  moments  in  the  King's  chamber.  Ughtred  slowly 
drew  a  little  apart  from  Marie  and  glanced  sternly  from 
one  to  the  other.  His  momentary  suspicion,  however, 
died  away.  The  look  on  the  face  of  Nicholas  of  Reist 
was  such  as  no  man,  even  the  most  consummate  of 
actors,  might  assume. 

"  What  news  do  you  bring  ?  "  the  King  said,  quietly. 
"  Is  all  well  at  Solika  ?  " 

Reist  pointed  to  his  sister. 

"  There  are  no  fresh  tidings,"  he  answered.  "  I  await 
your  Majesty's  explanation  of  my  sister's  presence  here." 

Ughtred  drew  himself  up.  The  blood  of  an  ancient 
race  asserted  itself.  He  eyed  Reist  coldly.  It  was  the 
King  who  faced  a  rebellious  subject. 

"  I  have  no  explanation  to  offer  to  you,  Duke  of 
Reist,"  he  answered.  "  Seek  it  instead  from  your  sister. 
It  is  she  who  should  afford  it  you,  seeing  that  her  presence 
here  was  undesired  by  me,  and  unexpected." 

"  Your  Majesty  lies  !  "  Reist  thundered. 

There  was  a  deep  and  awful  silence.  Then  Ughtred 
turned  upon  him,  a  fierce  flash  of  anger  in  his  blue  eyes. 

"Duke  of  Reist,"  he  said,  "  you  are  a  privileged 
person  at  this  Court,  and  I  have  called  you  my 
friend.  You  will  unsay  those  words,  or  hand  me  your 
sword." 

222 


THE  TRAITORS  223 

"I_repeat,"  Reist  said,  fiercely,  "that  your  Majesty 
lies." 

The  King  pointed  to  the  open  panel. 

"  Countess,"  he  ordered,  u  leave  us.  This  matter  is 
between  your  brother  and  myself.  We  can  settle  it  best 
in  your  absence." 

She  turned  to  her  brother. 

"  Nicholas,"  she  said,  "  the  King's  word  is  truth.  I 
came  here  without  any  knowledge  of  his.  I  remained 
here  against  his  will.  It  was  unwise,  perhaps,  but  the 
fault  was  mine.  I  wished  to  hear  from  his  own  lips 
what  truth  there  was  in  these  rumours  of  his  coming 
marriage." 

"  Was  it  your  place  to  ask  the  King  these  things  ? " 
he  demanded,  fiercely.  "  Was  it  dignified  or  seemly  of 
you — you,  his  affianced  bride  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  his  affianced  bride,  Nicholas,"  she  an- 
swered. "That  was  an  idle  ceremony.  It  was  true  we 
drank  together  of  the  King's  cup,  but  its  history  was  un- 
known to  him." 

He  eyed  them  both  with  a  fierce  scorn. 

"  God  alone  knows  of  what  cup  you  have  drunk 
together,"  he  cried,  bitterly.  "  How  often  have  you 
found  it  necessary  to  seek  him  here  in  the  solitude  of  his 
chamber  ?  How  often  have  you  used  this  infernal 
passage  ?  " 

"  To  seek  the  King,  never,"  she  answered  firmly. 
"  I  used  it  when  I  found  Brand  here.  If  I  had  not, 
Theos  might  to-day  have  been  a  Russian  State." 

He  pointed  with  unshaking  finger  to  the  opening 
in  the  wall. 


224  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Pass  away,  Marie  !  " 

She  hesitated. 

"  It  is  the  truth  which  I  have  told  you,  Nicholas," 
she  said. 

He  thrust  before  her  eyes  a  piece  of  paper. 

u  You  are  young,  Marie,  to  lie  so  glibly  even  for  your 
lover's  sake.  Here  is  the  message  which  summoned  you 
here,  written  in  the  King's  handwriting,  signed  with  the 
King's  name.  You  left  it  on  the  table,  so  that  even  the 
servants  might  know  of  the  shame  which  has  come  upon 
our  House." 

The  King  crossed  the  room  and  looked  over  Marie's 
shoulder.  It  was  indeed  his  own  notepaper,  and  the 
writing  of  those  few  words  strangely  resembled  his. 

"  Come  now,  I  am  alone. — U." 

The  King  looked  up  with  grave  face. 

"  It  is  a  forgery  !J^'  he  said. 

"  It  is  a  forgery,"  Marie  echoed,  white  to  the  lips. 

Nicholas  of  Reist  said  nothing.  He  pointed  to  the 
open  panel.  A  look  of  horror  flashed  into  the  girl's 
face.  She  understood. 

"Nicholas,"  she  cried,  "that  message  never  came 
from  the  King.  Where  you  found  it  I  do  not  know, 
but  I  never  saw  it  before.  You  must  believe  me, 
Nicholas.  The  King  was  ignorant  of  my  coming. 
He  was  unwilling  that  I  should  remain  even  for  a 
moment." 

" 1  repeat,"  the  King  said,  gravely,  "  that  the  writing 
which  you  hold  in  your  hands  is  a  forgery,  Nicholas.  I 
have  never  written  to  your  sister  in  my  life.  This 
is  part  of  a  plot  which  shall  be  sifted  to  the  bottom." 


THE  TRAITORS  225 

Still  Nicholas  stood  silent  before  the  panel,  and  Marie 
passed  out.  He  shut  it  carefully.  Then  he  turned  to 
the  King,  who  was  still  standing  with  that  half-sheet  of 
notepaper  in  his  hand. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  I  desire  to  know  whether 
it  is  your  intention  to  marry  my  sister." 

The  King  looked  him  squarely  in  the  face. 

"  Nicholas,"  he  said,  "  have  I  ever  in  my  life  done  or 
said  anything  to  give  rise  to  such  a  belief?  " 

"  Your  Majesty,"  Reist  answered,  with  a  bow,  "  has 
been  ever  most  discreet.  Yet  before  witnesses  you 
pledged  my  sister  in  our  ancient  betrothal  cup,  well 
knowing  its  immutable  record." 

"  That  is  true,"  the  King  answered,  "  but  at  the  time 
I  showed  clearly  that  with  me  at  least  it  was  a  jest.  I 
plead  guilty  to  an  act  of  folly.  I  came  straight  here 
from  life  amongst  a  people  to  whom  symbols  and  cere- 
monies have  become  as  empty  things — a  practical  and 
utilitarian  people,  and  I  did  not  recognize  the  passionate 
clinging  of  the  dwellers  in  these  more  romantic  countries 
to  old  customs  and  old  ritual.  I  deeply  regret  it, 
Nicholas.  I  have  no  other  regret." 

Reist  pointed  to  the  letter  which  still  remained  in  the 
King's  fingers.  Ughtred  tore  it  through  with  a  gesture 
of  contempt. 

"  I  did  not  write  it,"  he  said.  "  I  did  not  invite  your 
sister's  presence." 

Reist  controlled  himself  with  a  visible  effort. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  I  beg  you  for  one  moment 
to  reflect.  I  appeal  once  more,  less  for  your  sake 
or  mine,  than  for  our  country's,  to  your  honour.  Your 


226  THE  TRAITORS 

throne  you  owe  to  me.  I  have  been  your  faithful 
servant,  and  my  sword  is  yet  wet  with  the  blood  of  your 
enemies.  Our  name  is  great  throughout  Europe.  An 
alliance  with  us  can  only  strengthen  your  hold  upon  the 
people.  It._ill  becomes  me  to  force  these  things  upon 
but  the  issue  is  great.  Do  you  seek  the  hand 
of  my  sister  in  marriage  ?  " 

"  I  do  not,"  the  King  answered.  "  I  never  have 
done.  Wait." 

Reist  paused  with  his  hand  upon  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 
The  King  continued. 

"  For  the  sake  of  my  kingdom  I  do  not  order  you 
from  my  presence,  Reist.  We  are  in  danger,  as  you 
know,  and  I  can  ill  spare  a  brave  man.  Listen.  On 
my  honour  I,  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  declare  to  you  that 
the  letter  you  found  is  a  forgery,  that  your  sister's 
presence  here  was  as  much  a  surprise  to  me  as  to  you, 
that  I  never  for  one  single  moment  failed  in  the  respect 
which  I  owe  to  her  as  the  sister  of  my  best  subject." 

"  That,"  Reist  said,  coldly,  "  is  your  Majesty's  last 
word  ? " 

"  It  is." 

Reist  drew  his  sword  from  his  scabbard  and  bent 
it  upon  the  ground  till  the  blade  snapped.  The  pieces 
he  threw  before  the  King. 

^ I  resign  my  position  in  the  army/'  he  said,  "and  I 
withdraw  my  oath  of  allegiance.  We  are  on  equal 
terms  now,  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  and  I  demand  satisfac- 
tion from  you  for  this  affront  upon  my  House." 

Ughtred  eyed  him  sternly  for  a  moment,  but  without 
anger. 


THE  TRAITORS  227 

"  First,  sir,"  he  said,  "  discharge  yourself  of  your 
duty.  Report  to  me  of  the  position  at  Solika." 

"  We  have  withstood  a  fierce  attack,"  Reist  answered, 
coldly,  "  and  driven  the  Turks  off  with  heavy  losses.  I 
regret  to  add,  however,  that  Solika  is  a  hotbed  of  Russian 
intrigue,  and  what  we  gain  in  the  field  we  shall  doubtless 
lose  through  treachery.  My  force  are  encamped  outside 
the  city,  and  there  are  scouts  duly  posted  to  warn  us  of 
any  fresh  attack.  I  desire  your  answer,  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus." 

The  King's  eyes  flashed  with  anger. 

"  Be  careful,  sir,"  he  exclaimed,  "  or  my  answer  will 
be  a  file  of  soldiers  and  the  prison." 

There  was  a  brief  pause.  An  angry  spot  burned  on 
Reist's  cheeks,  but  he  kept  silent. 

"  My  answer  to  you  is  this,  sir,"  the  King  said. 
"  All  duties  which  I  owe  as  a  private  individual  are 
secondary  to  those  I  owe  my  country.  So  long  as  the 
war  lasts  I  decline  your  challenge.  The  day  it  is  over  I 
will  meet  you  under  any  condition  you  choose  to  name. 
Now  go  !  " 

«  But " 

"  Sir,"  the  King  thundered,  "  I  do  not  bandy  words 
with  my  subjects.  Go  !  " 

Reist  passed  out  in  silence.  The  panel  rolled  heavily 
back.  The  King  was  alone  !  He  sank  heavily  on  to 
his  couch  and  buried  his  face  in  his  hands. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

ONCE  more  brother  and  sister  stood  face  to  face  in 
the  great  shadowy  audience-room  of  the  Reist  palace. 
Again,  too,  there  was  the  clamour  of  many  voices  in  the 
streets  below,  for  a  messenger  had  just  galloped  in  with 
news  from  the  front,  and  a  sad  procession  of  ambulance 
wagons  had  arrived  for  the  hospital.  Only  it  seemed 
to  them  both  that  that  other  day,  of  which  both  for  a 
moment  thought,  lay  far  back  in  some  uncertain  past. 
Events  had  marched  so  rapidly  during  the  last  few 
months  that  all  sense  of  proportion  and  distance  was 
lost.  They  looked  at  one  another  with  white,  haggard 
faces.  Marie  saw  that  her  brother  no  longer  wore  his 
sword. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  "  she  asked,  faintly. 

The  fires  of  hell  were  smouldering  in  his  dark  eyes. 
Yet  he  answered  with  some  attempt  at  calmness. 

"  I  challenged  him.  I  had  the  right !  He  did  not 
deny  it,  but  he  will  not  fight  until  the  war  is  over.  I 
have  broken  my  sword.  I  am  an  outcast  from  my 
people — and  he  is  still  their  king.  Marie,  you  have 
brought  great  trouble  upon  our  House." 

"  It  was  not  I  who  brought  him  here,"  she  answered. 
"  I  was  against  it  always.  The  trouble  is  of  your  making 
,— and  his.  He  drank  with  me  from  the  King's  cup." 

"  Ay  !  And  to-night  he  refused  absolutely  to  marry 
228 


THE  TRAITORS  229 

you,  Marie.  I  suffered  the  everlasting  humiliation  of 
offering  your  hand — to  have  it  refused." 

She  drew  a  short,  quick  breath.  It  was  humiliation 
indeed.  A  sudden  wild  anger  seized  her.  She  locked 
and  interlocked  her  ringers  nervously. 

"  They  are  an  accursed  race,  these  men  of  Tyrnaus," 
she  cried.  "  They  make  vows  only  to  break  them. 
Their  honour  is  a  broken  reed." 

Then  Nicholas,  his  face  gleaming  white  through  the 
darkness,  leaned  over  to  her. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  "  those  written  words — which  sum- 
moned you  to  him — were  his  ?  " 

She  hesitated.     He  raised  his  hand. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  solemnly,  "  answer  me  as  though 
your  foot  were  upon  the  threshold  of  eternity.  Re- 
member that  the  name  of  Reist  will  become  a  name  of 
shame  for  ever  if  you  speak  falsely.  He  is  young,  and 
he  came  here  a  stranger  to  us  and  our  traditions.  With 
our  country  in  peril  I  might  forgive  for  the  while  his 
broken  troth — if  that  were  all.  But  if  he  has  dared  to 
hold  you  lightly — that  I  cannot  forgive.  Tell  me  the 
truth !  Was  that  message,  indeed,  from  him  which 
summoned  you  to  a  clandestine  meeting  ?  " 

She  met  his  fixed  gaze  with  beating  heart.  Her 
bosom  rose  and  fell  quickly.  She  was  torn  with  a  hun- 
dred emotions.  At  last  she  answered. 

"  Nicholas,"  she  said,  "  I  know  nothing  of  that  note. 
I  sought  the  king  of  my  own  free  will." 

Reist  paced  the  room  with  quick,  uneven  footsteps, 
Marie  sat  at  the  table,  her  head  buried  in  her  hands. 
He  did  not  approach  her.  Through  the  open  window 


230  THE  TRAITORS 

came  the  dull  booming  of  guns.  The  sound  was  a  tor- 
ture to  him. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  she  asked,  at  last. 

"  God  only  knows  !  "  he  answered,  bitterly.  "  I  have 
no  King  and  no  country.  Yet  if  I  stay  here  I  shall  go  mad." 

She  removed  her  hands  from  her  face  and  looked  at 
him  stealthily. 

"  If  there  were  a  way,"  she  whispered,  "  to  save 
Theos,  and  to  be  avenged  on  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus." 

He  stopped  short. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  If  there  were  still  a  way,"  she  whispered,  "by  which 
our  old  dream  might  come  true.  If  it  were  still  possible 
that  you  might  become  the  saviour  of  our  country, 
might  even  now  rescue  it  from  the  Turks " 

"  Plain  words,"  he  cried.  "  Let  there  be  no  enigmas 
between  you  and  me.  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

She  looked  at  him  more  boldly. 

"  If  a  great  Power  should  say  c  I  will  not  help  Theos 
in  her  trouble  because  I  do  not  recognize  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus,  but  if  the  right  man  is  willing  to  accept  the 
throne — so — I  will  stretch  out  my  hand — the  war  shall 
cease — Theos  shall  be  free.'  What  do  you  think  of 
that,  Nicholas  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her  with  new  eyes. 

"  Whose  thoughts  are  these  ?  "  he  asked,  slowly. 

"Domiloff's  !" 

"  He  has  spoken  to  you  ?  " 

"Yes!" 

"  It  is  treason,"  he  cried,  hoarsely.  "  I  will  have 
none  of  it." 


THE  TRAITORS  231 

"Who,"  she  asked,  "  is  a  greater  traitor  than  Ughtred 
of  Tyrnaus  ? " 

He  was  silent. 

"  Who,"  she  cried,  "  is  better  beloved  in  Theos  ? — 
who  could  rule  the  people  more  wisely  than  you,  Nich- 
olas ?  It  would  save  our  country  from  conquest  and 
pillage.  It  is — the  only  way.  Is  it  not  what  we  have 
spoken  of  before — have  not  you  yourself  pointed  up- 
wards to  that  motto,  whose  writing  is  surely  no  less  clear 
to-day  ?  Oh,  Nicholas,  you  cannot  hesitate." 

He  walked  to  the  window  and  looked  out  towards  the 
hills,  where  the  red  lights  still  flared  and  the  guns  made 
sullen  music.  Her  words  were  like  poison  to  him. 

"  Listen,  Nicholas,"  she  said.  "  While  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  is  king  no  help  will  come  to  us  from  any  other 
nation,  and  without  help  how  can  Theos  hold  out 
against  a  hundred  thousand  Turks  ?  We  have  few 
soldiers  and  fewer  guns.  Our  population  will  be  deci- 
mated, our  country  laid  waste,  and  the  end  will  be 
slavery.  It  is  for  you  to  save  us  all.  It  is  you  who 
can  save  Theos." 

He  looked  at  her  with  cold,  stern  eyes. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  the  confidante  of  DomilofF? " 

"  It  is  only  lately,"  she  answered,  "  that  he  has 
spoken  to  me  of  these  things.  I  think,  Nicholas,  that 
he  is  afraid  of  you." 

"  Perhaps,"  Reist  remarked,  bitterly,  "  he  mistook 
me  for  an  honest  man." 

"  It  is  freedom  for  Theos,"  she  said,  softly,  "  and  re- 
venge upon  the  King.  Whatever  may  befall  him  from 
our  Hands  he  has  deserved." 


232 


THE  TRAITORS 


"  Is  DomilofF  still  in  Theos  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  nodded. 

"  You  will  find  him  at  the  Cafe  Metropolitan,"  she 
said,  "  only  he  is  now  a  Frenchman.  You  must  ask  for 
Monsieur  Abouyat." 

Reist  moved  restlessly  up  and  down  the  room.  Often 
his  fingers  sought  the  place  where  his  sword  should  have 
been. 

"  Something  I  must  do,"  he  muttered.  "  I  might  dis- 
guise myself  as  a  peasant  and  fight  in  the  ranks.  To  be 
here  idle  is  horrible ;  to  go  to  DomilofF — I  cannot !  " 

He  looked  gloomily  out  into  the  darkness.  The  in- 
action was  unendurable.  She  crossed  the  room  to  his 
side  and  laid  her  hand  upon  his  arm. 

"  It  is  not  by  standing  still,  Nicholas,  or  by  indecision 
that  you  can  preserve  your  country  or  avenge  your 
honour,"  she  said.  "  Go  to  DomilofF.  Hear  what  he 
has  to  say.  Then  ask  yourself  what  is  best  for  Theos." 

"  DomilofF  has  the  tongue  of  a  fiend,"  he  answered, 
"  or  a  serpent.  I  do  not  dare  to  trust  myself  with  him. 
Russia  would  play  us  false  in  the  end.  Our  freedom 
would  be  undermined.  I  myself  should  be  a  puppet,  a 
doll,  at  the  beck  and  call  of  a  master.  Oh,  I  know  how 
these  Russians  treat  an  independent  State  if  once  their 
fingers  are  upon  her  throat." 

"  You  talk  as  though  Theos  were  not  already  doomed," 
she  cried.  "  What  hope  have  we  as  it  is  ?  Nicholas, 
have  you  ever  thought  what  must  happen  when  the 
Turks  have  crossed  the  frontier.  You  know  their  way 
— it  is  blood  and  fire  and  desolation.  Have  you  con- 
sidered the  women  and  children,  Nicholas  ?  " 


THE  TRAITORS  233 

He  groaned.  The  recollection  of  former  raids  was 
lurid  and  terrible  enough.  It  was  hard  for  him  to  see 
clearly.  And  his  scabbard  was  empty. 

"  I  will  go  to  DomilofF,"  he  said  at  last,  "  I  will  hear 
what  he  has  to  say."  « 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

IT  was  very  dark,  very  stuffy,  and  a  strong,  malodorous 
suggestion  of  garlic  pervaded  the  little  cafe.  The 
ordinary  customers  of  the  place  preferred  always  the 
round  tables  outside,  and  very  few  passed  through  the 
worn  swing  doors  which  led  to  the  gloomy  interior. 
The  two  men  who  occupied  one  of  the  small  partitions 
had  the  place  to  themselves. 

"  It  is  not  the  time,  this,  for  any  weak  scruples,  my 
dear  Reist,"  Domiloff  was  saying.  "  Theos  in  a  week's 
time  will  be  either  a  Russian  State  forever,  or  once 
more  a  free  country  with  a  ruler  who  is  one  of  her 
own  sons,  and  in  whom  my  master  can  repose  every 
confidence.  You  see  I  am  very  frank  with  you.  I 
admit  that  this  attack  upon  your  country  is  the  will  and 
the  decree  of  Russia.  It  was  broached  in  London,  con- 
firmed in  St.  Petersburg,  and  planned  in  Constantinople. 
Yet,  believe  me,  it  was  conceived  in  no  spirit  of  enmity 
to  Theos.  It  is  simply  this.  We  will  not  have  a 
Tyrnaus  upon  the  throne  of  Theos." 

"  Your  country,"  Reist  answered,  hoarsely,  "  has  no 
great  reputation  for  generosity.  What  are  we  to  pay 
for  our  freedom  ?  You  would  not  have  me  believe  that 
there  is  no  price." 

41  There  is  none,"  was  the  quiet  answer,  "  which  you, 
as  a  patriot  and  a  Thetian,  need  hesitate  to  pay.  We 
should  require  the  abolition  of  the  present  edict  pro- 

234 


THE  TRAITORS  235 

hibiting  Russians  from  holding  public  offices,  and  a  few 
more  such  unimportant  concessions.  They  are  nothing. 
They  will  serve  only  to  knit  our  countries  more  closely 
together  in  friendship." 

Reist  laughed  hardly. 

"  Yet  I  think,"  he  said,  "  that  the  freedom  of  Theos 
would  become  somewhat  of  a  jest  were  I  to  accept  your 
terms." 

"  The  alternative,"  Domiloff  remarked,  "  may  seem 
more  pleasing  to  you.  Yet  I  have  heard  people  say 
unpleasant  things  of  the  Turkish  yoke." 

"  Theos  is  not  yet  conquered,"  Reist  answered. 
"  Ughtred,  to  do  him  justice,  is  a  soldier,  and  my  people 
have  the  love  of  fighting  born  in  their  hearts." 

"  The  odds  are  too  great — and  you  know  it,"  was  the 
quiet  reply.  "  Besides,  the  Turkish  army  is  ledf  by 
Russians  and  supplied  with  Russian  artillery.  The 
result  is  certain." 

"  There  may  be  intervention  !  " 

"  From  whom  ?  "  Domiloff  asked,  smiling.  "  France 
is  the  monkey  who  dances  to  my  master's  music — 
Austria  is  bound  to  us,  Germany  is  geographically 
powerless." 

"There  is  England." 

Domiloff  laughed  outright. 

"  England  as  a  European  Power,"  he  declared,  u  has 
ceased  to  exist.  A  few  Dutch  farmers  have  pricked  the 
bubble  of  her  military  reputation.  If  she  should  have 
the  sublime  impudence  to  lift  her  voice  we  should  treat 
her  with  the  contempt  she  has  earned.  No,  Reist,  there 
will  be  no  intervention.  Your  brave  Thetians  will  be 


236  THE  TRAITORS 

cut  to  pieces,  your  country  will  be  pillaged  and  burned, 
your  women  will  become  the  consorts  of  the  Turkish 
soldiery,  your  ladies  will  go  to  grace  a  Turkish  harem. 
These  things  must  be  unless  you  have  the  courage  to 
hold  out  your  hand.  You  call  yourself  a  patriot.  Prove 
it !  The  issue  is  plain  enough." 

The  words  bit  into  Reist's  heart.  He  sat  in  gloomy 
silence.  From  afar  off  he  seemed  to  hear  the  battle- 
cry  of  his  beloved  soldiers,  the  thunder  of  hoofs,  the 
flashing  steel,  the  glory  of  the  charge  thrilled  his  blood. 
There  was  patriotism  indeed — there,  where  the  lances 
dripped  red  and  the  bullets  flew.  And  he,  Nicholas  of 
Reist,  sat  skulking  in  the  back  room  of  a  doubtful  cafe^ 
safely  out  of  harm's  reach,  talking  treason  with  one 
who  had  ever  been  the  foremost  of  his  country's 
enemies. 

"  You  bought  Metzger,"  he  said,  "  and  the  people 
cast  him  out.  You  may  buy  me,  and  yet  the  people 
will  not  accept  your  terms.  They  will  not  have  Rus- 
sians in  authority  over  them.  The  hatred  of  your 
country  is  a  religion  with  them." 

"  They  believe  in  you  as  they  would  believe  in  no 
other  man,"  Domiloff  answered.  "  You  can  make  the 
situation  clear  to  them.  In  your  heart  you  know  that  it 
is  their  only  salvation." 

"  They  may  save  their  skins,"  Reist  admitted,  "  but 
after  all  life  is  a  short  thing.  It  is  better  to  die  like 
gods  than  to  live  like  slaves." 

Domiloff  shook  his  head. 

u  My  friend,"  he  said,  "  there  is  but  one  life  that  we 
know  anything  of,  and  it  should  not  be  lightly  thrown 


THE  TRAITORS  237 

away.  You  can  save  Theos  if  you  will.  Supposing, 
however,  that  you  are  obstinate — that  you  cling  to  your 
ancient  prejudices — well,  what  will  you  do  then  ?  Con- 
sider your  position.  You  have  quarrelled  with  the 
King.  Your  place  in  the  army  has  gone,  you  have  sur- 
rendered your  sword.  How  can  you  ever  show  your- 
self in  Theos  again,  who  lingered  here  in  the  hour  of 
battle  ?  Be  wise,  my  friend.  Before  you  there  is  but 
one  possible  course.  Take  it.  The  day  will  come 
when  every  man  who  calls  himself  a  Thetian  will  bless 
your  name." 

"  Or  curse  it !  "  Reist  muttered. 

"  Curse  it,  indeed,"  Domiloff  answered,  "  if  you  play 
the  coward.  It  is  the  hour  now  for  a  strong  man  to 
rise.  You  are  that  man.  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus,  whom 
you  call  your  king,  is  even  now  forging  the  fetters  to 
lead  Theos  into  slavery.  It  is  for  you  to  thrust  him 
aside  and  save  your  people." 

"  His  is  the  nobler  way,"  Reist  cried,  bitterly. 
"  DomilofF,  I  can  listen  to  you  no  longer.  I  am  not 
the  man  you  seek.  My  feet  are  not  used  to  these 
tortuous  ways.  I  will  ask  the  King's  pardon.  He  will 
give  me  back  my  sword,  and  I  can  at  least  find  a  glo- 
rious death." 

"  You  can  fight  then  for  a  King  who  has  deprived 
you  of  your  sword  ?  "  DomilofF  whispered.  "  You  can 
forgive  him  the  insult  he  has  thrust  upon  your  sister. 
You  can  bear  to  think  of  her,  slighted  for  the  daughter 
of  an  American  tradesman.  Who  is  Ughtred  of  Tyr- 
naus that  he  should  do  this  thing,  and  that  the  Duke  of 
Reist  should  ask  his  pardon  !  " 


238  THE  TRAITORS 

Reist  ground  his  teeth. 

"  I  can  force  my  way  into  the  ranks  and  fight  un- 
known," he  said,  hoarsely.  "  It  would  be  better  to  die 
there  than  to  live  to  listen  to  your  poisonous  whisper- 
ings. I  do  not  trust  you,  Domiloff.  I  cannot.  I  have 
no  pledge  that  you  would  keep  your  word." 

A  sudden  change  flashed  into  the  white  face  of  the 
Russian.  He  sat  perfectly  still — listening.  Reist 
opened  his  lips  to  ask  a  question,  but  it  remained  un- 
asked. He,  too,  heard  the  sound.  Somewhere  behind 
the  partition  a  man's  breathing  was  distinctly  audible. 
Domiloff 's  hand  sought  his  pocket,  and  he  rose  softly 
to  his  feet. 

The  intruder,  whoever  he  might  be,  did  not  hesitate 
for  a  second.  He  leaped  through  the  window  by  which 
he  had  entered,  and  ran  down  the  passage.  Domiloff 
followed  him,  and  peering  forward  fired  a  couple  of  shots 
in  rapid  succession.  Apparently  they  were  fruitless,  for 
the  fugitive  gained  the  open  space  in  front  of  the  cafe 
and  mingled  with  the  crowd.  There  was  a  rush  of  by- 
standers towards  the  two  men,  but  Domiloff  raised  his 
hands  and  cried  in  Thetian  — 

"  A  Turk  !     A  Turk  !     A  spy  !     Follow  him  !  " 

There  was  a  rush  across  the  street.  Domiloff  and 
Reist  exchanged  rapid  glances  with  one  another. 

"  A  spy  indeed,  but  a  spy  from  the  other  side,"  Domi- 
loff muttered.  "  I  wonder  how  much  he  heard." 

But  Reist  was  speechless.  To  him  the  interruption 
had  come  like  the  awakening  from  a  horrible  dream. 
There  was  a  man  then — a  man  of  Theos  who  knew  him 
for  a  traitor. 


THE  TRAITORS  239 

The  hue  and  cry  had  left  them  alone.  Suddenly 
Domiloff  stooped  down.  A  soft  felt  hat  lay  almost  at 
their  feet.  Through  the  brim  and  crown  was  a  small 
round  hole. 

"It  is  his  hat,"  Domiloff  muttered.  "Why  did  I 
not  aim  an  inch  lower  ?  " 

He  struck  a  match,  and  looked  for  the  name  inside 
the  lining.  It  was  Scott  and  Co.,  Bond  Street,  London. 

Reist  felt  his  cheeks  burn,  though  the  night  was  cool. 
Domiloff 's  voice  sounded  unnaturally  calm. 

"  It  was  the  Englishman  then,  Walter  Brand. 
Good  !  " 

"  The  King's  friend,"  Reist  faltered. 

Domiloff  nodded. 

"  I  do  not  think,"  he  said,  "  that  he  will  ever  see  the 
King  again."  ^ 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

LATE  that  night  a  man  stood  motionless  amongst  the 
shrubs  in  the  garden  of  the  Reist  house.  His  eyes 
were  fixed  always  upon  a  certain  window  where  a  light 
was  burning.  He  muttered  often  to  himself,  and  the 
things  which  he  said  were  not  pleasant  to  hear.  He 
was  tired  and  cramped  with  his  long  waiting — yet  so 
long  as  that  light  burned  he  dared  not  approach  the  house. 

There  came  to  him  at  last  a  welcome  sound,  a  light 
footstep  and  the  trailing  of  a  skirt  upon  the  gravel  path. 
He  leaned  forward. 

"  Countess,  I  am  here." 

Marie  stooped  to  pluck  a  flower,  and  slipped  behind 
the  shrub.  They  were  now  invisible  from  the  house. 

"  You  received  my  note  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Yes." 

"  It  was  more  than  two  hours  ago.  I  am  cold  and 
tired  with  waiting.  Was  it  necessary  to  keep  me  here 
so  long  ?  " 

"  Quite,"  she  answered.  "  I  came  as  soon  as  it  was 
safe." 

"  Who  has  been  with  your  brother  to-night  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  How  do  you  know  that  we  have  not  been  alone  ?  " 

He  pointed  to  the  light  still  burning  in  the  window. 

"That  light,"  he  said.  "  See,  it  is  just  extinguished. 
Your  visitor  has  gone." 

240 


THE  TRAITORS  241 

She  laughed  bitterly. 

"You  are  well  served — by  my  servants,"  she  said. 

"  It  is  for  all  our  interests  !     The  visitor  ?  " 

"  It  was  General  Kolashin." 

"The  General  himself?" 

"  Yes.  He  came  to  reason  with  my  brother  about 
giving  up  his  command." 

Domiloff  frowned. 

"Your  brother  did  not  waver  ?  " 

"  He  wavered  a  good  deal.  But  for  me  I  think  that 
he  would  have  returned  to  camp.  I  am  sorry  now  that 
I  interfered." 

"  You  are  not  in  a  pleasant  humour  to-night,  I  fear, 
Countess." 

"  I  am  never  in  a  pleasant  humour  when  I  have 
to  do  with — such  as  you.  Treason  and  deceit  are  ugly 
things,  to  us,  at  least,  Baron  Domiloff." 

"  I  do  not  agree  with  your  terms,  Countess,"  he 
answered,  "  but  this  is  scarcely  the  place  or  the  time  for 
argument.  Your  brother  ?  " 

"  He  awaits  you." 

"  He  has  spoken  of  our  interview  ?  " 

"Yes!" 

"  And  you  have  told  him  ?  " 

"  To  beware  of  Baron  Domiloff,"  she  answered, 
coolly. 

He  bent  over  to  read  her  face,  uncertain  in  the  dim 
twilight. 

"  You  are  jesting,"  he  murmured. 

"  It  is  very  possible,"  she  admitted. 

She  turned  away  from  him,  and  looked  towards  the 


242  THE  TRAITORS 

hills.  The  muttering  of  artillery  still  continued.  Domi- 
loff  was  uneasy. 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  "  I  must  go  in  to  your  brother, 
for  this  evening  we  were  overheard  in  the  Cafe  Metro- 
politan, and  I  am  not  safe  in  the  city  any  longer.  But, 
I  pray  you  to  tell  me  this.  What  is  your  brother's 
disposition  concerning  these  matters  of  which  we  have 
talked  ?  " 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you.  I  have  done  what  I  can,  but  he 
himself  is  torn  with  doubts  and  fears.  The  sound  of 
the  guns,  and  the  thought  of  the  fighting  goads  him  to 
madness.  I  have  done  what  I  promised.  Through  me 
he  has  broken  with  the  King,  and  I  have  sent  him  to 
you.  The  rest  you  should  have  accomplished." 

"  And  so  I  should,"  Domiloff  declared,  fiercely,  "  but 
for  that  cursed  interruption.  It  is  ill  to  do  with  men 
who  do  not  know  their  own  minds." 

"  Or  with  women  in  the  like  straits,  my  friend,"  she 
murmured. 

He  shot  a  quick  glance  at  her. 

"  Of  you,"  he  declared,  quietly,  "  I  have  no  fear. 
You  would  not  see  this  American  girl  Queen  of  Theos. 
I  do  not  think  that  you  would  stand  in  waiting  before 
her  throne." 

Marie's  face  was  for  a  moment  white  with  passion. 
She  seemed  as  though  she  would  strike  him.  Domiloff 
watched  her  narrowly.  He  liked  to  be  sure  of  every  one 
with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  and  there  were  times  when 
she  eluded  him. 

"  No,"  she  answered  at  last.     "  It  is  not  likely  that  I 


THE  TRAITORS  243 

should  do  that.  Baron  Domiloff,  I  will  show  you 
the  way  to  my  brother's  room." 

"  One  moment." 

He  touched  her  arm.  She  drew  it  away  with  an 
angry  exclamation.  Domiloff  was  not  without  vanity, 
and  his  personal  repugnance  to  her,  which  she  was  at  no 
pains  to  hide,  galled  him.  For  a  moment  he  dared  not 
trust  himself  to  speak. 

"Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  remember,"  she  said, 
with  cutting  force,  "  that  my  toleration  of  you  is  on  ac- 
count of  Theos,  and  Theos  only.  Personally,  I  hate  all 
conspirators  and  plotters.  The  idea  of  this  sort  of  thing 
and  everybody  connected  with  it  is  loathsome  to  me." 

He  bowed  low.  It  was  as  well  that  she  could  not 
see  his  face. 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  "  you  will  excuse  my  familiarity, 
but  there  was  a  matter — an  urgent  matter — which  I  had 
yet  to  mention  to  you.  There  is  a  man  who  must  die 
unless  he  leaves  Theos  in  four-and-twenty  hours.  I 
have  heard  him  called  your  friend — else  he  were  a  dead 
man  at  this  moment." 

She  looked  at  him  doubtfully. 

"  You  do  not  mean  the  King  ?  " 

"  No  !  I  mean  Walter  Brand,  the  English  journalist." 

She  started.     Domiloff  watched  her  keenly. 

"  What  has  he  done  ? "  she  asked. 

"  What  has  he  not  done.  You  remember  his  first 
appearance  here  ?  " 

She  laughed  softly. 

"  I  remember  it  very  well,"  she  answered.  "  He  was 
bold  enough  to  befool  the  wily  Baron  Domiloff — to  play 


244  THE  TRAITORS 

with  him  and  beat  him  at  his  own  game.     Yes,  his  first 
coming  I  remember  very  well  indeed."  ^ 

The  darkness  hid  Domiloff's  face.  His  voice  was 
under  perfect  control. 

"  I  bear  him  no  special  grudge  for  that,"  Domiloff 
said,  "  but  it  was  only  the  beginning.  He  has  done  his 
very  best  to  oppose  us  throughout.  He  is  the  King's 
most  intimate  friend,  he  is  our  most  dangerous  enemy. 
His  letters  from  here  are  influencing  the  whole  European 
Press.  In  England  they  have  created  a  sensation,  and 
in  Germany  also.  They  have  been  translated  into  every 
language,  and  copied  everywhere.  The  time  has  come 
when  they  must  cease." 

She  felt  the  significance  of  his  words.  She  was  not 
altogether  unmoved  under  his  close  scrutiny. 

"  He  is  an  Englishman,"  she  said,  "  and  jt_is  danger-^— 
ous  to  interfere  with  Englishmen." 

"  Nevertheless  it  must  be  done,"  he  declared.  "  To- 
night it  has  become  a  matter  of  urgency." 

"  How  so  ?  " 

"  Because,  not  content  with  the  mischief  which  he  has 
already  done,  he  must  needs  play  the  spy  upon  one  or  both 
of  us.  To-night  he  was  at  the  Cafe  Metropolitan  and  over- 
heard some  part  of  my  conversation  with  your  brother." 

A  sudden  colour  flushed  her  cheeks.  Her  eyes  were 
bright. 

"  He  is  a  brave  man,"  she  cried. 

DomilofF  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  The  difference  between  a  brave  man  and  a  fool," 
he  said,  "  is  so  slight.  But  listen,  Countess !  You 
wish  his  life  spared  ?  " 


,- 


THE  TRAITORS  245 

"  If  harm  comes  to  him  through  you  or  any  of  your 
creatures,"  she  cried,  with  a  little  burst  of  passion,  "  I 
will  go  to  the  King  and  have  you  hung  in  the  market- 
place." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  Domiloff  was  stag- 
gered by  her  bold  words. 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  "  his  safety  lies  with  you.  I 
give  you  this  opportunity  to  warn  him." 

"  To  warn  him  ?  But  I  do  not  know  where  he  is," 
Marie  protested.  "  Besides,  he  would  not  heed  me." 

"To-morrow,"  Domiloff  answered,  "I  may  be  able 
to  acquaint  you  with  his  whereabouts.  I  must  at  least 
have  him  watched  and  his  dispatches  intercepted.  He 
is  absolutely  our  most  dangerous  opponent." 

"  But  even  if  he  were  to  receive  a  message  from  me, 
he  would  not  come  if  he  were  at  the  front,"  Marie  said. 

"  He  comes  every  day  to  Theos  to  send  off  his 
cables,"  Domiloff  answered.  "  I  shall  send  you  word 
where  he  is,  and  you  must  send  for  him.  It  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  that  he  come  over  to  our  side." 

"  He  is  not  the  kind  of  man  to  desert  a  losing  cause," 
Marie  said.  "  He  would  not  listen  to  me." 

Domiloff  gave  vent  to  an  impatient  gesture. 

"  He  must  listen  to  you,  Countess,  or  die,"  he  said. 

She  looked  him  in  the  face. 

"  You  will  remember  my  threat,  Baron  Domiloff," 
she  said.  "  Those  were  no  idle  words." 

He  bowed  low. 

"  We  will  go  to  your  brother,"  he  said. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

THE  King  entered  from  his  ante-chamber  and  took 
his  place  at  the  head  of  the  long  table  amidst  a  profound 
and  depressing  silence.  The  faces  of  his  counsellors 
were  grave  indeed.  The  military  members  were  all  at 
the  front.  Those  who  remained  were  the  merchants  and 
men  of  peace,  and  to  them  the  guns  whose  roar  seemed 
ever  increasing  spelled  ruin. 

Old  Baron  Doxis  took  the  chair.  He  opened  the  pro- 
ceedings with  dim  eyes  and  a  shaking  voice.  Theos 
was  dear  to  him,  but  so  also  were  his  sons  and  nephews, 
some  of  whom  he  could  scarcely  hope  to  see  again.  The 
routine  business  was  quickly  dispensed  with.  The 
King  in  a  few  sentences  told  them  the  war  news  of  the 
day. 

Then  Baron  Doxis  rose  again. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "this  meeting  of  our  Inner 
Council  you  yourself  have  pronounced  an  wholly  in- 
formal one.  We  are  sitting  here  with  closed  doors. 
We  are  all,  I  believe,  patriots  and  Thetians.  Let  me 
ask  your  Majesty,  therefore,  if  every  means  have  been 
tried  to  avoid  the  destruction  which  threatens  us  ?  " 

The  faces  of  all  were  turned  towards  the  King. 

"  My  friends,"  he  said,  slowly,  "  I  have  heard  it  whis- 
pered, not  amongst  you,  perhaps,  but  yet  amongst  those 
who  might  have  known  me  better,  that  this  war  is  the 
outcome  of  my  own  military  activity,  that  it  is  a  war 

246 


^ 


THE  TRAITORS  247 

which  might  have  been  prevented.  Let  me  implore  you 
not  to  give  credit  to  any  such  idea.  It  is  a  cruel  war, 
an  unjust  war,  and — we  must  look  the  worst  in  the  face. 
It  may  mean  the  extinction  of  Theos  as  an  independent 
nation.  But  it  has  been  brutally  thrust  upon  us.  We 
have  been  powerless  to  avoid  it.  We  have  given  no 
offence,  we  have  striven  for  peace,  knowing  that  by 
peace  alone  we  can  prosper.  The  pretext  for  the  com- 
mencement of  hostilities  was  a  false  one.  An  absolutely 
faithful  account  of  all  that  passed  between  Effenden 
Pascha  and  ourselves  has  been  set  down  on  paper  and 
forwarded  to  Constantinople — also  to  every  Court  in 
Europe.  I  have  appealed  to  every  reigning  sovereign 
for  intercession.  What  is  left  to  us  but  to  fight  ?  The 
enemy  have  crossed  our  frontier.  But  for  ou£dispos^- 
tions  and  the  bravery  of  our  soldiers  they  would  be  even 
now  at  the  gates  of  Theos.  If  I  failed  in  my  duty,  tell 
me  where.  What  could  I  have  done  ?  " 

Baron  Doxis  rose  up  again. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  we  do  not  presume  to 
doubt  your  word.  We  believe  in  the  justice  of  our 
cause,  and  we  will  believe  that  these  movements  on  the 
part  of  the  Turks  are  movements  of  ruthless  aggres- 
sion. But,  bearing  in  mind  our  hopeless  inferiority  in 
numbers,  I  must  ask  whether  any  steps  have  been  taken 
to  ascertain  the  terms  on  which  peace  would  be  granted 
to  us." 

The  King's  face  was  set  and  grave. 

"  Baron  Doxis,"  he  said,  "  we  have  not  yet  ap- 
proached the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Turkish 
forces  on  this  subject.  But  I  can  tell  you  well  what  the 


248  THE  TRAITORS 

answer  would  be.  The  surrender  of  your  army,  of  our 
city,  the  pillaging  of  our  houses,  the  outraging  of  our 
women.  Have  you  not  yet  learned  how  the  Turks 
make  war  ? " 

Baron  Doxis  remained  upon  his  feet.  He  passed  his 
trembling  hand  along  his  snow-white  beard. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "these  are  the  days  of 
civilizedjvarfare,  and  it  is  possible  that  more  restraint 
might  be  exercised  over  the  Turkish  soldiery  now  than 
in  the  days  gone  by.  I  humbly  submit  that  the  de- 
mands of  the  invaders  be  ascertained  and  submitted  to 
us." 

The  King  remained  silent  for  a  minute.  Then  he 
looked  up,  and  though  his  lips  trembled  his  voice  was 
firm  enough. 

"You  can  send  your  instructions  to  General  Dart- 
noff,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  not  interfere.  At  the  same 
time,  I  feel  bound  to  tell  you  that  I  look  upon  any  such 
appeal  as  hopeless.  We  have  no  hope,  save  in  God,  in 
our  arms,  and  from  the  possible  intercession  of  one  or 
more  of  the  Powers." 

Tavener,  a  merchant,  who  was  suspected  of  Jewish 
descent,  rose  timidly  to  his  feet. 

"  Your  Majesty  has  come  to-night  from  the  seat  of 
war,"  he  said.  "  May  we  ask  of  these  rumours  con- 
cerning the  Duke  of  Reist  ?  It  is  rumoured  that  the 
Duke  has  abandoned  his  command  and  returned  his 
sword  to  your  Majesty." 

"The  rumour  is  correct,"  the  King  answered. 

There  was  an  uneasy  murmur  of  voices.  Baron 
Doxis  rose. 


THE  TRAITORS  249 

"  Your  Majesty,  we  should  esteem  some  further  par- 
ticulars as  to  this  action  on  the  part  of  the  Duke  of 
Reist.  We  have  always  been  accustomed  to  consider 
him  one  of  the  born  leaders  of  this  country." 

"The  resignation  of  the  Duke,"  Ughtred  said,  "is 
due  to  a  personal  matter  which  I  am  not  at  liberty  to 
explain  to  you.  No  one  can  regret  it  more  than  I  do." 

An  ominous  silence  followed.  Ughtred  was  con- 
scious of  it,  yet  there  seemed  to  be  nothing  which  he 
could  do  to  dispel  it.  He  knew  that  the  loyalty  of  these 
men  was  being  sorely  taxed.  In  their  hearts  they  be- 
lieved him  responsible  for  the  war.  This  severance 
with  Reist  encouraged  them  in  their  belief.  Baron 
Doxis  rose  slowly  to  his  feet. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  slowly,  "as  the  oldest 
member  of  this  council,  as  the  oldest  inhabitant  of 
Theos  here  present,  will  you  permit  me  to  say  a  word 
respecting  the  Duke  of  Reist?  " 

The  King  inclined  his  head. 

"  I  am  prepared  to  hear  you,  Baron  Doxis,"  he  said. 

"  The  Duke  of  Reist,"  Doxis  continued,  "  is  the  sole 
representative  of  the  one  family  in  Theos  who  for  cen- 
turies have  served  their  country  faithfully  as  true  pa- 
triots. The  Duke  of  Reist  it  was  who  is  solely  re- 
sponsible for  the  restoration  of  the  monarchy.  It  was 
he  who  found  your  Majesty  out  and  brought  you  here 
to  reign  over  us." 

Ughtred  looked  up. 

"  I  am  conscious,"  he  said,  "  of  all  that  Nicholas  of 
Reist  has  done  for  Theos.  I  know,  too,  what  I  per- 
sonally owe  him.  I  believe  him  at  heart  to  be  a  true 


250  THE  TRAITORS 

and  devoted  patriot.  Yet  for  all  this  the  quarrel  between 
us  is  not  of  my  seeking.  I  cannot  go  to  him  and  order 
him  into  the  field.  Seek  him  yourselves,  if  you  will. 
He  has  spoken  words  to  me  which  no  one,  not  even  the 
first  noble  in  Christendom,  has  a  right  to  use  to  his 
sovereign.  I  pass  that  over.  I  demand  no  apology. 
Let  him  resume  his  place  in  the  field  and  his  command, 
if  he  will.  I  would  not  place  my  own  dignity  before 
the  good  of  Theos.  The  Assembly  is  dismissed,  gentle- 
men." 

The  King  retired  to  his  own  apartments.  His  serv- 
ant was  in  waiting. 

"Your  Majesty  has  four  hours  before  the  time  ap- 
pointed for  the  special  train,"  he  announced.  "The 
sleeping  chamber  is  prepared." 

Ughtred  waved  him  away. 

"  I  shall  not  retire,"  he  said.     "  Leave  me  alone." 

He  leaned  forward  in  his  easy-chair  and  buried  his 
face  in  his  hands.  Only  a  month  ago  life  had  seemed 
such  a  fair  thing.  He  had  been  full  of  plans  and 
dreams.  He  had  envied  no  man  in  Europe.  And  now 
he  seemed  hemmed  about  with  disaster.  He  was  no 
longer  the  hero  of  the  people.  He  had  lost  his  best 
friend — between  his  counsellors  and  himself  an  ominous 
gulf  was  widening  every  hour.  There  were  whispers  of 
treason  in  the  city,  his  isolation  would  soon  become  an 
accomplished  fact.  Almost  his  courage  failed  him. 

The  door  was  softly  opened  and  closed.  He  looked 
up  wearily,  then  sprang  to  his  feet.  It  was  Sara  who 
was  coming  across  the  room  Howards  him  with  out- 
stretched hands. 


THE  TRAITORS  251 

"Sara." 

He  took  her  into  his  arms,  from  which  she  presently 
escaped,  and  carefully  disengaged  herself.  Already  he 
felt  better  at  the  sight  of  her. 

"  How  did  you  come  here,  Sara  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  used  your  ring,"  she  answered,  showing  it  to  him. 
"  Father  is  in  the  next  room." 

"  Your  father  has  been  very  useful,"  he  said.  "  He 
has  been  out  with  the  engineer  all  day." 

She  laughed. 

"  He  is  amusing  himself.  But,  Ughtred,  I  came  to 
talk  to  you  for  a  moment.  They  tell  me  that  you  are 
going  back  to  the  front  directly." 

"  I  must  be  there  at  daybreak,"  he  answered.  "  Until 
then  we  have  granted  them  an  armistice — to  bury  their 
dead." 

She  nodded. 

"  I  hear  all  about  it.  I  was  in  the  field-hospital  all 
day,  and  the  wounded  were  brought  in  shouting  with 
joy.  It  was  a  great  fight,  Ughtred." 

An  answering  gleam  flashed  in  his  eyes. 

u  You  should  have  been  a  soldier's  daughter,  Sara." 

Her  face  was  suddenly  grave.  She  was  standing  by 
his  side  with  her  hands  loosely  clasped  behind  her,  her 
eyes  upturned  to  his. 

"  Ughtred,"  she  said,  "  I  have  come  here  to  say  some- 
thing to  you.  There  have  been  rumours  of  a  quarrel 
between  you  and  the  Reists.  Is  that  true  ?  " 

"  There  is  something  of  the  sort,"  he  admitted. 

"  They  say  that  the  Duke  of  Reist  has  thrown  up  his 
command." 


252  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Yes." 

"  Is  it  true,  Ughtred,  that  you  went  through  some 
sort  of  a  betrothal  ceremony  with  the  Countess  of 
Reist  ?  " 

He  laughed  heartily.  Then  he  told  her  the  story. 
She  listened  with  grave  face. 

"  You  were  scarcely  to  blame,"  she  said,  when  he  had 
finished.  "But,  Ughtred,  I  have  begun  to  understand 
what  should  have  been  plain  to  me  from  the  first — what 
you  too  should  have  thought  of,  perhaps.  Our  engage- 
ment would  never  be  welcomed  by  your  people.  They 
love  the  old  families  and  the  old  names.  It  would  make 
you  unpopular,  and  I  believe  it  is  at  the  bottom  of  your 
disagreement  with  the  Reists.  You  must  forget  what 
you  said,  dear.  It  is  best,  indeed." 

He  turned  upon  her  for  the  moment  almost  fiercely. 
He  was  overwrought. 

"  You,  too  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  My  God,  how  lonely 
people  can  leave  a  King  when  the  evil  times  come." 

He  saw  her  look  of  pain,  and  the  tears  fill  her  eyes. 
He  turned  suddenly  and  threw  his  arms  about  her. 

"  You  love  me,  Sara.  You  do  not  want  to  take  that 
back  ? " 

"  You  know  that  I  do  not,"  she  answered. 

"Then  put  these  things  away  from  you  till  these 
troubles  are  past.  At  least  let  me  have  you  to  think 
of  and  fight  for.  Afterwards  we  will  speak  of  them 
again." 

She  assented  gladly. 

"  Only  I  want  you  to  know,  Ughtred,"  she  said, 
"  that  I  will  never  become  your  wife  if  it  is  to  lessen 


,. 


THE  TRAITORS  .        253 

your  hold  upon  your  people  here.  I  wish  they  could 
know  it.  Some  of  these  poor  wounded  soldiers  look  at 
me  as  if  I  were  their  enemy.  Why,  it  is  terrible." 

He  smiled  reassuringly. 

"When  the  war  is  over  we  will  talk  of  this  seri- 
ously," he  answered.  "  Listen." 

He  threw  up  the  blind.  It  was  still  dark  and  appar- 
ently raining,  but  away  eastwards  there  was  a  break  in 
the  clouds,  and  the  stars  were  paler.  In  the  courtyard 
below  a  carriage  was  waiting.  He  dropped  the  blind 
hastily,  picked  up  his  cloak. 

"I  must  go,  Sara,"  he  declared.  "Wish  me  luck, 
dear." 

She  clung  to  him  with  suddenly  swimming  eyes.  Her 
lips  trembled — her  face  was  very  wistful. 

"  Oh,  my  dear !  My  dear,"  she  cried,  softly,  "  if 
only  I  could  bring  you  luck.  If  only  I  could  be  your 
mascotte." 

He  laughed  cheerily.  His  arms  were  around  her,  and 
she  was  comforted. 

"There  is  no  better  mascotte  for  a  man  in  this 
world,"  he  declared,  "than  the  touch  of  the  woman  he 
loves.  Send  me  back  to  the  front,  dear,  with  your 
kisses  upon  my  lips  and  the  sound  of  your  voice  in  my 
ears,  and  I  promise  you  that  you  shall  hear  great  news." 

When  Ughtred  passed  out  a  few  minutes  later  a 
rumour  went  through  the  palace  that  good  news  had 
come.  For  the  King  held  his  head  high,  and  his  eyes 
were  as  the  eyes  of  a  man  who  goes  forth  to  victory 
looking  upon  pleasant  things. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

THROUGHOUT  the  night  there  was  little  attempt  at 
sleep  in  the  Thetian  camp.  Long  lines  of  men,  relieved 
every  two  hours  that  they  might  work  at  the  utmost 
speed,  were  busy  in  the  valley  digging  entrenchments. 
Guns  were  being  dragged  up  to  the  heights  and  signal- 
ling stations  fixed.  With  dawn  came  a  proclamation 
from  the  King  freely  issued  about  the  camp. 

"  Men  of  Theos  and  Soldiers  of  the  Thetian  Army. 

u  The  thanks  of  the  State  are  due  to  you  for  your 
brave  fight  yesterday,  you  and  your  gallant  leaders.  I 
am  glad  to  tell  you  that  at  Althea  Pass  and  Morania  the 
enemy  were  also  repulsed  with  great  loss.  So  far  then 
the  fighting  has  gone  wholly  in  our  favour.  Let  us 
thank  God,  who  has  strengthened  the  arm  of  those 
whose  cause  is  just,  who  resist  _an  unwarranted_and  in- 
iquitous invasion  of  their  native  land. 

"  The  precautions  which  have  been  taken  to  guard 
against  this  act  of  brigandage  encourage  us  to  hope  for 
success.  We  are  not  taken  unawares.  Since  my  acces- 
sion to  the  throne  of  my  ancestors  I  have,  as  you  know, 
devoted  every  effort  to  strengthening  our  defences,  to 
preparing  so  far  as  preparation  was  possible  for  the 
position  in  which  we  find  ourselves  to-day.  Althea 
Pass  is  almost  impregnable.  I  do  not  believe  that  the 
Turks  will  ever  pass  alive  through  the  Moranian  defiles. 

254 


THE  TRAITORS  255 

Here  it  is  that  the  final  struggle  must  take  place.  It  is 
you,  my  soldiers,  who  must  bear  the  great  burden  of  the 
fighting.  The  place  of  honour  is  yours,  and  the  place 
of  honour  may  be  the  place  of  death.  It  is  meet  there- 
fore that  I,  your  King,  should  be  with  you.  I  have 
therefore  decided  to  take  over  the  supreme  command 
from  your  valiant  and  respected  leader,  General  Dartnoff, 
and  to  lead  you  personally  into  battle.  With  God's 
help  and  your  valour  I  have  every  trust  and  every  hope 
in  the  future.  I  need  not  remind  you  that  our  cause  is 
just  and  great.  We  fight  for  our  homes — I  for  my 
palace,  you  for  your  homesteads — as  brothers  together. 
We  fight  for  our  freedom,  for  our  womenkind,  and  the 
freedom  of  those  who  are  to  come  after  us.  For  my 
part  I  pledge  myself  to  this.  There  shall  be  no  sub- 
mission on  terms  that  I  will  ever  accept  save  those 
which  leave  Theos  as  free  in  the  future  as  it  is  to-day. 
For  your  part  I  ask  you  only  to  quit  yourselves  like  the 
Thetians  of  old,  to  believe  in  me  and  obey,  to  remember 
always  that  God  is  with  the  weak,  and  He  will  surely 
protect  us.  Strike  hard,  obey  unflinchingly,  and  if  the 
whispers  of  treason  should  reach  your  ears  scorn  it  as 
did  those  others  who  have  fought  before  you.  Do  this, 
and  I  will  lead  you  to  victory." 

At  dawn  a  single  horseman,  attended  by  a  small 
escort,  galloped  down  from  the  shed  where  the  light 
railway  from  Theos  ended.  General  DartnofF  and  a 
little  group  of  officers  stood  in  front  of  the  former's 
quarters. 

"  It  is  Rcist  at  last,"  one  exclaimed. 


256  THE  TRAITORS 

But  the  General  shook  his  head. 

"  It  is  the  King,"  he  declared.  "  See  he  is  riding  his 
own  horse." 

The  old  battle-cry  rang  like  music  in  the  King's  ears 
as  he  galloped  down  the  lines.  He  was  fair  to  look 
upon  in  the  faint  early  sunlight,  bronzed  and  manly, 
a  born  soldier  with  a  dash  of  the  enthusiast.  The  men, 
fresh  from  reading  his  proclamation,  welcomed  him  with 
thunderous  cheers.  Their  shouts  rose  to  the  skies,  and 
Ughtred  breathed  more  freely.  For  these  were  Reist's 
men,  and  it  was  Reist's  place  which  he  must  fill. 

"Your  Majesty  is  welcome  to  the  camp,"  General 
Dartnoff  said,  saluting.  "  We  were  looking  for  the 
Duke  of  Reist." 

The  King  passed  into  the  tent,  and  motioned  the 
General  and  the  other  officers  to  follow  them.  Then 
he  turned  and  faced  them. 

"  General  Dartnoff,"  he  said,  "  I  regret  to  inform  you 
that  the  Duke  of  Reist  has  resigned  his  command." 

Blank  astonishment  was  written  into  their  faces.  The 
thing  was  incredible. 

"I  beg  your  Majesty's  pardon,"  General  Dartnoff 
said,  with  some  hesitation,  "  but  do  we  indeed  hear  you 
rightly  ?  The  Duke  of  Reist  has  resigned  his  command 
— in  time  of  war — at  such  a  time  as  this  ?  Nicholas  of 
Reist ! " 

"  It  is  unfortunately  true,"  the  King  repeated. 

"  He  is  stricken  with  illness  suddenly  ?  "  Dartnoff 
asked. 

The  King  shook  his  head. 

"  I  regret  to  say  that  the  resignation  of  the  Duke  of 


,. 


THE  TRAITORS  257 

Reist  is  due  to  a  personal  matter  between  myself  and 
him,  in  which  he  considers  himself  aggrieved." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  Quick  glances  were 
exchanged  amongst  the  officers.  Dartnoff  was  sorely 
puzzled. 

"  It  was  Nicholas  of  Reist  who  brought  you  here," 
he  said,  slowly.  "  It  was  his  word  and  advice — 
which " 

"  Which  made  me  King,"  Ughtred  continued.  "  That 
is  so.  General  DartnofF  and  you,  gentlemen,  do  not 
think  that  I  treat  this  matter  lightly.  It  has  been  a 
great  blow  to  me — a  great  shock.  But,  listen.  The 
Duke  of  Reist  has  no  cause  of  offence  against  me  what- 
ever. He  has  been  deceived  and  misled,  and  I  have  a 
fancy  that  DomilofF,  who  they  say  is  still  lurking  about 
Theos,  is  concerned  in  it." 

The  General's  face  grew  graver  than  ever. 

"  Nicholas  of  Reist,"  he  said,  "  would  never  stoop  to 
secret  dealings  with  such  men  as  DomilofF." 

"  I  hope  and  believe  not  myself,"  the  King  answered 
promptly.  "  But  such  men  as  DomilofF  work  in  the 
dark  indirectly,  and  some  one  has  poisoned  the  mind 
of  Nicholas  of  Reist  against  me.  But  listen.  I  repeat 
that  the  matter  is  a  personal  one.  For  the  moment  it 
can  well  be  left  where  it  is.  I  will  promise  you  this. 
After  the  war  if  Theos  still  exists  and  I  am  alive  I  will 
meet  the  Duke  of  Reist  before  you,  General  DartnofF, 
and  any  three  of  our  countrymen  whom  you  may  select, 
and  you  shall  judge  between  us.  If  you  find  that  I  am 
in  the  wrong  my  abdication  shall  be  at  your  service.  If 
you  decide  in  my  favour  the  Duke  of  Reist's  apology 


258  THE  TRAITORS 

and  his  hand  will  be  sufficient  for  me.  But,  remember, 
that  to-day  we  stand  before  the  destinies  of  Theos.  For 
God's  sake  do  not  let  your  loyalty  or  your  faith  in  me 
be  affected  by  this  deeply-to-be-deplored  incident.  To 
do  so  would  be  to  play  into  the  hands  of  those  who 
have  poisoned  the  mind  of  the  Duke  of  Reist  against 
me.  Give  me  your  trust  a  little  longer,  I  beg  of  you." 

General  Dartnoff  stood  in  front  of  his  officers,  and  he 
did  not  hesitate.  The  cloud  had  passed  from  his  face. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said.  "  We  accept.  Yet  with 
your  permission  I  would  ask  you  this  question.  No 
man  in  Theos  loves  his  country  better  than  Nicholas  of 
Reist.  If  he  should  desire  to  recall  his  words ?" 

The  King  held  out  his  hand. 

"  I  would  offer  it  to  him,"  he  said,  "  as  freely  as  I 
offer  it  now  to  you." 

The  cloud  passed  in  substance  away.  Metterbee — a 
senior  officer — respectfully  intervened. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  there  is  Reist's  com- 
mand." 

The  King  looked  around  him. 

"  I  am  going  to  make  one  more  demand  upon  your 
loyalty,"  he  said  gravely.  "  General  Dartnoff,  it  is  my 
wish  that  you  take  over  the  command  of  the  Duke  of 
Reist's  corps.  The  chief  command  I  am  prepared  to 
assume  in  person." 

General  Dartnoff  smiled. 

"  If  your  Majesty  makes  no  more  serious  demands 
upon  our  loyalty  than  this  he  will  be  well  served,"  he 
answered.  "  There  is  no  one  more  fit  to  command  than 
you,  sir.  The  present  admirable  disposition  of  our 


THE  TRAITORS  259 

forces  is  yours,  not  mine ;  so  far  I  have  been  no  more 
than  a  figurehead.  Your  plan  of  entrenchments  has 
been  a  revelation  to  all  of  us." 

There  arose  a  little  murmur  of  approval.  Reist's 
defection  was  amazing,  but  this  was  the  man  who  alone 
could  save  Theos.  Ughtred  felt  a  glow  of  pride  and 
gratitude  as  he  shook  hands  with  his  chief  officers. 

"And  now,  General,"  he  said,  "I  must  ask  you  to 
transfer  your  staff  to  me  in  order  that  I  may  give  some 
instructions.  The  Turkish  lines  are  clearly  in  view 
from  our  positions,  I  believe  ?  " 

The  General  bowed. 

"  We  have  reports  every  twenty  minutes,  your 
Majesty,"  he  answered.  "  Anything  in  the  nature  of  a 
surprise  is  impossible." 

"  Very  well,"  Ughtred  said.  "  Now,  General,  will 
you  let  me  have  in  the  course  of  half-an-hour  an  escort 
of  two  hundred  picked  men.  I  am  going  to  enter 
Solika." 

Dartnoff  dispatched  an  officer  with  instructions. 
Then  he  turned  to  the  King. 

"  Your  Majesty  is  aware  of  the  state  of  affairs  within 
the  walls  ?  " 

Ughtred  nodded. 

"  Yes.  I  want  the  help  of  two  or  three  residents  of 
the  city  whose  loyalty  is  above  suspicion.  Can  you 
point  out  such  to  me  ? " 

"  More  than  two  or  three,  I  think,  your  Majesty," 
Dartnoff  answered.  "  I  will  give  their  names  to  the 
officer  commanding  your  escort." 

Ughtred  sat  down  at  the  head  of  the  table. 


260  THE  TRAITORS 

"  Let  them  bring  some  coffee  then  at  once.  In  an 
hour  I  wish  to  start  for  Solika.  The  officers  of  my 
staff,  and  you,  General  DartnofF,  will  please  remain." 

Breakfast  was  brought,  and  Ughtred  talked  for  a  few 
minutes  to  them  all.  He  then  explained  that  during  the 
campaign  he  desired  to  rank  as  General  only,  to  be 
addressed  as  sir,  to  be  treated  as  commanding  officer, 
and  not  as  King.  For  the  most  part  the  officers  were 
Thetians  and  Austro-Thetians.  Keen  soldiers  and  well 
up  to  their  work,  for,  in  addition  to  their  regular  duties, 
the  drilling  of  the  armed  population  had  also  devolved 
upon  them.  Ughtred  looked  them  over,  and  his  heart 
grew  lighter.  They  were  a  little  rough  perhaps,  and 
somewhat  uneasy  at  first  in  his  presence,  but  honest 
men,  and  soldiers  to  the  backbone. 

Towards  midday  Solika  awoke  into  a  state  of  wild 
excitement.  The  King  was  at  the  Town  Hall  with 
many  of  the  leading  inhabitants,  and  extraordinary 
rumours  were  flying  about.  The  civil  populace  was  to 
be  invited  to  bear  arms,  foreigners  were  to  be  expelled, 
a  great  blow  was  to  be  struck  at  the  mixed  population, 
whose  loyalty  was  doubtful.  Fact  followed  fast  upon 
the  heels  of  rumour.  The  little  street  cafes  were  thronged 
with  eager  groups,  all  studying  a  proclamation  wet  from 
the  press.  The  station  was  thronged  with  trains.  All 
strangers  must  quit  Solika  in  twelve  hours.  All  residents 
not  naturalized  must  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  and 
hold  themselves  ready  to  bear  arms,  or  leave  in  twenty- 
four  hours.  Property  would  be  respected  as  far  as 
possible,  but  the  war  laws  of  Theos  had  known  no 
modification  for  five  hundred  years,  and  on  every  wall 


THE  TRAITORS  261 

appeared  copies  of  the  statute,  and  a  schedule  of  treason- 
able practices,  the  penalty  for  which  was  death.  Solika 
was  in  an  uproar.  A  hasty  but  secret  meeting  of 
Russians  was  held  at  the  house  of  the  Consul.  It  was 
broken  up  by  a  detachment  of  soldiers,  and  every  person 
there  conducted  in  a  guarded  train  to  the  frontier. 
Ughtred  himself  rode  through  the  streets,  and  read  in 
the  faces  of  the  angry  crowds  their  extraction,  and 
where  their  sympathy  lay.  There  was  scarcely  a  native 
Thetian  there,  for  the  men  of  Theos  were  excellent 
farmers  and  tillers  of  the  land,  but  poor  shopkeepers. 
Their  wants  were  supplied  by  Jews  and  Russians,  who 
robbed  them  regularly,  and  were  only  too  ready  now  to 
welcome  the  coming  of  a  richer  race.  Ughtred  returned 
to  the  Town  Hall,  and  knew  that  he  had  done  well. 

On  the  steps  he  stopped  short.  He  was  face  to  face 
with  the  man  whom,  more  than  any  other,  at  that 
moment  he  desired  to  meet.  It  was  Brand. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

"  AT  last,"  Brand  exclaimed,  with  a  gesture  of  relief. 
"  I  have  been  looking  for  you  everywhere." 

Ughtred  glanced  round.  They  were  surrounded  by  a 
considerable  crowd. 

"  You  have  something  important  to  say  to  me, 
Brand  ?  " 

"Yes." 

Ughtred  motioned  to  an  orderly. 

"  Procure  a  fresh  horse  for  Mr.  Brand,"  he  said. 
"You  will  ride  back  to  camp  with  me,  Brand.  We 
shall  be  away  from  this  rabble  then." 

It  was  not  until  they  were  absolutely  alone  that  Brand 
spoke. 

"  Your^Majestyj"  he  said,  ^Nicholas  of  Reist  is  a 
traitor/* 

The  King  turned  in  his  saddle. 

"  I  cannot  believe  that,  my  friend,"  he  said.  "  Reist 
has  quarrelled  with  me  personally,  and  has  resigned  his 
command  in  the  army.  But  that  does  not  make  him  a 
traitor." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  Brand  answered,  drily,  "  but  asso- 
ciation with  Domiloff  does." 

Ughtred  started.  His  face  and  his  tone  alike  gave 
evidence  of  his  unbelief.  He  even  smiled. 

"You  are  mistaken,  my  dear  Brand,"  he  said. 
262 


THE  TRAITORS  263 

"Reist  is  a  patriot  and  a  nobleman.  He  would  never 
stoop  to  league  himself  with  such  scum." 

"  I  presume  that  my  eyes  are  sufficient  evidence," 
Brand  answered,  quietly.  "  I  myself  saw  Reist  and 
Domiloff  meet  last  night  at  a  low  cafe  in  Theos.  I 
overheard  part  of  their  conversation." 

The  King's  face  was  as  the  face  of  a  man  who  has 
received  a  blow.  For  a  moment  or  two  he  remained  silent. 

"  They  may  have  met  by  accident,"  he  said,  at  last, 
looking  half-fearfully  towards  Brand.  "  Domiloff  may 
have  proposed  things  to  Reist,  but  he  would  not  listen, 
no,  he  surely  would  not  listen." 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  Brand  declared,  grimly.  "  He 
met  Domiloff  by  appointment,  and  he  listened  with 
interest  to  all  that  he  had  to  say." 

"  How  do  you  know  this,  Brand  ?  "  the  King  asked. 

"  I  have  been  watching  the  place  for  some  time — and 
Domiloff.  It  ought  to  be  burned.  It  is  a  hotbed  of 
treason  and  Russian  intrigue.  I  saw  the  meeting  and 
heard  part  of  the  conversation.  Unfortunately  I  was 
discovered." 

"  You  were  discovered  ?  "  Ughtred  repeated. 

"  And  Domiloff  put  a  bullet  through  my  hat,"  Brand 
continued.  "  I  escaped,  but  it  was  a  close  thing.  Since 
then  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  appreciating  how 
widespread  have  been  Domiloff 's  snares.  My  life  has 
been  attempted  twice,  and  I  have  been  misled  by  forged 
letters  as  to  your  whereabouts.  I  have  been  to  Althea 
and  Morania  in  search  of  you." 

"  And  you  heard  some  part  of  what  passed  between 
Domiloff  and  Reist  ?  " 


264  THE  TRAITORS 

11  Yes.  Domiloff  offered  Reist  the  crown  of  Theos 
and  Russian  intervention  in  the  present  war." 

"  And  Russian  protection  afterwards,  I  suppose," 
Ughtred  remarked,  bitterly. 

"  That  is,  of  course,  what  is  behind  it  all,"  Brand 
assented. 

The  face  of  the  King  grew  stern  and  thoughtful. 
There  was  silence  between  the  two  men  for  some  time. 

"  If  any  other  man  had  told  me  of  this,"  Ughtred  said 
at  last,  "  frankly  I  should  not  have  believed  them.  It 
was  Nicholas  of  Reist  who  was  always  warning  me  of 
Russia  and  Russian  intrigue.  He  seemed  to  read  Domi- 
loff like  a  book." 

u  The  quarrel  which  you  spoke  of  between  yourself 
and  Reist,"  Brand  said,  thoughtfully — "  was  it  serious  ? " 

"  It  was  forced  upon  me,"  Ughtred  answered.  "The 
Countess  most  unfortunately  came  to  my  room  last  night 
by  the  secret  passage  to  warn  me  against — well,  Brand, 
I  do  not  see  why  I  should  not  be  frank  with  you — 
against  an  alliance  with  Sara  Van  Decht." 

"  She  came — of  her  own  will — without  any  suggestion 
from  you  ?  "  Brand  asked. 

"  Of  course  !  "  Ughtred  answered.  "  I  may  not  be  a 
model  of  etiquette,  but  I  should  never  dream  of  solicit- 
ing, of  welcoming  an  interview  from  even  so  old  a  friend 
as  the  Countess  of  Reist  under  such  circumstances. 
Well,  in  the  midst  of  our  conversation,  which  I  was 
doing  my  best  to  curtail,  her  brother  arrived  unexpect- 
edly from  Solika  and  found  us  together.  He  chose  to 
consider  her  presence  in  my  room  compromising,  and 
demanded  that  I  should  marry  her.  After  that — chaos. 


THE  TRAITORS  265 

As  I  told  you,  Reist  has  given  up  his  command  and  de- 
serted me.  I  believe  that  I  have  promised  to  fight  him 
after  the  war  is  over." 

"  And  the  Countess  ?  "  Brand  asked. 

The  King  smiled  bitterly. 

"  She  too  seems  to  be  my  enemy,  though  why  I  can- 
not imagine.  She,  at  any  rate,  can  bear  no  ill-will  to 
me  over  that  unfortunate  affair  of  the  betrothal  cup,  for 
she  has  told  me  plainly  that  she  loves  another  man." 

Brand's  horse  seemed  to  stumble,  and  his  face  was 
invisible  for  a  moment  as  he  stooped  down  to  pat  her 
neck.  When  he  looked  up  there  was  a  curious  gleam  in 
his  eyes. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  I  am  very  sorry  that  this 
has  happened.  I  believe  that  Domiloff  is  working  very 
hard  to  induce  the  Duke  of  Reist  to  join  in  his  plot 
against  you." 

The  King  looked  sorrowfully  away. 

"  Nicholas  was  my  one  friend  here,"  he  said.  "  I 
have  only  my  soldiers  now.  God  grant  that  their  lives 
may  not  be  frittered  away — that  we  may  not  lose  by 
treason  what  we  gain  in  battle." 

They  talked  for  a  while  of  the  campaign.  Brand, 
from  his  brief  visit  to  Althea  and  Morania,  was  already 
conversant  with  the  plan  of  operations.  An  old  war 
correspondent,  the  muttering  of  the  guns  was  like 
music  to  him. 

"  You  should  be  able  to  hold  your  positions  for  a  fort- 
night," he  declared,  "  and  by  that  time  Theos  will  be 
ready  for  a  siege.  I  see  that  you  are  making  prepara- 
tions for  a  retreat  there." 


266  THE  TRAITORS 

"  The  women  and  children  are  being  sent  away  every 
hour,"  the  King  answered.  "  I  know  that  my  men  here 
are  staunch,  and  so  far  as  they  are  concerned  the  Turks 
will  find  nothing  but  a  heap  of  smoking  ruins  when  they 
enter  Theos.  It  is  not  the  actual  fighting  which  troubles 
me,  Brand." 

Brand  looked  into  the  King's  anxious  face,  and  found 
there  some  clue  to  his  doubtful  words.  He  pointed 
with  his  riding  whip  to  the  distant  city. 

"  It  is  treachery  which  you  fear  ?  "  he  remarked  softly. 

Ughtred  nodded. 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  he  said,  "  there  is  something  going 
on  there  which  I  cannot  understand.  It  is  Domiloff's 
work.  I  am  sure  of  that.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Coun- 
cil last  night  I  seemed  to  be  somehow  conscious  of  a 
general  atmosphere  of  intrigue.  There  is  something 
going  on  behind  my  back.  Doxis  plainly  hinted  that  it 
would  be  better  to  make  terms  than  waste  the  whole 
country  by  an  impossible  resistance,  and  when  I  asked 
him  *  terms  with  whom  ? '  he  was  silent.  We  know  that 
the  Turks  have  no  terms  to  offer  save  unconditional  sur- 
render. What  did  he  mean,  then  ? " 

"  I  fear,"  Brand  said,  "  that  Domiloff's  schemes  are 
more  deeply  laid  than  we  at  first  believed.  What  a  pity 
that  he  was  ever  allowed  to  remain  in  Theos." 

"  I  sent  him  to  the  frontier  once,"  Ughtred  said. 
"  He  came  back  secretly." 

"  But  your  police  ?  " 

"  Theos  has  no  police  now,"  Ughtred  answered. 
"  They  are  fighting  at  Althea.  We  could  not  afford  to 
leave  a  hundred  able-bodied  men  in  the  city." 


THE  TRAITORS  267 

Brand  reined  in  his  horse.  The  two  men  were  on  a 
hill  from  which  the  outposts  of  the  Turkish  army  were 
distinctly  visible.  Brand  took  out  his  glasses  and  swept 
the  country  steadily  for  several  minutes. 

"  I  have  a  proposition  to  make,"  he  said,  after  he  had 
finished  his  survey.  "  I  do  not  think  that  there  will  be 
any  fighting  to-day.  If  you  like  I  will  return  to  Theos 
and  endeavour  to  find  out  what  is  going  on." 

The  King  held  out  his  hand. 

"  If  you  will  do  this  for  me,"  he  said,  simply,  "  it  will 
be  the  service  of  a  friend.  I  think  that  I  need  friends 
now  very  badly." 

So  Brand  turned  his  horse's  head  towards  Theos,  and 
the  King  rode  down  into  the  camp  alone.  - 


CHAPTER  XL 

"  You  ! " 

Marie  of  Reist  rose  with  a  sudden  swift  movement 
from  the  sofa  where  she  had  been  lying. 

"  I  trust  that  my  visit  is  not  as  unwelcome  as  it  seems 
to  be  surprising,"  he  remarked,  crossing  the  room  to- 
wards her.  "  I  am  taking  advantage " 

She  held  up  her  hand — a  quick,  impulsive  gesture  of 
silence. 

"  Hush ! "  she  whispered.  "  Do  not  say  another 
word.  Follow  me  and  tread  lightly." 

He  followed  her  into  the  circular  stone  wall,  hung 
with  ancient  paintings,  and  where  no  light  ever  came 
save  through  those  wonderful  stained  glass  windows,  the 
gift  of  an  Emperor  to  Rudolph  of  Tyrnaus.  They 
passed  along  a  passage,  up  some  stairs,  and  into  a  sitting- 
room.  She  closed  the  door  softly,  and  stood  for  a  mo- 
ment with  her  hand  still  upon  the  handle,  listening. 
Then,  as  all  seemed  quiet  below,  the  fear  passed  from 
her  eyes,  and  she  smiled  upon  him. 

"  Are  you  mad  to  come  here  ? "  she  asked,  softly. 
"  You  ought  not  to  show  yourself  in  the  streets.  Do 
you  not  know  that  you  are  the  most  unpopular  person  in 
Theos  ? " 

"I  can  assure  you  that  I  was  not  aware  of  it,"  he 
answered.  "  In  any  case,  who  in  this  house  would  be 
likely  to  wish  me  harm  ?  " 

263 


THE  TRAITORS  269 

"You  are  quite  safe  here,  I  think,"  she  answered, 
ignoring  his  question.  "  My  brother  and  some  friends 
were  in  the  next  room  down-stairs.  I  was  afraid  that 
they  might  hear  your  voice." 

He  sat  down  on  the  sofa  beside  her. 

u  I  am  not  inclined,"  he  said,  "  to  quarrel  with  my 
good  fortune.  But  as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is  your  brother 
whom  I  wish  to  see.  There  is  no  reason  why  I  should 
not — that  I  know  of." 

She  shook  her  head. 

"Nevertheless,"  she  said,  "be  content  to  stay  with 
me.  It  will  be  better  for  you.  Oh  yes,  a  very  great 
deal  better." 

Brand  moved  a  little  nearer.  It  was  certain  that 
there  was  much  which  he  could  learn  from  her. 

"  It  is  very  pleasant  to  see  you  again,  Countess  ! "  he 
remarked. 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  Countess  ? " 

The  colour  flushed  under  his  tanned  cheeks.  He 
looked  away. 

"  Marie,  then — if  you  will  permit !  " 

"  I  do  permit,"  she  murmured,  "  only  you  must  not 
say  it  very  often — until  I  get  used  to  it.  Oh,  my 
friend,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you,  and  yet  how  danger- 
ous it  is.  Why  do  you  go  on  filling  all  the  newspapers 
in  Europe  with  your  letters  from  Theos,  and  your  praises 
of  the  King  ?  You  have  made  enemies  here.  You  are 
even  now  being  sought  for." 

He  smiled  grimly. 

" 1  thought  that  I  must  be  becoming  unpopular,"  he 


270  THE  TRAITORS 

said.  "  People  are  so  anxious  to  find  me  that  they  send 
bullets — mostly  very  badly  aimed  ones — after  me  in  the 
street.  I  do  not  understand  it." 

She  shuddered  and  glanced  nervously  around  her. 
The  window  by  which  they  sat  was  commanded  by 
another  in  the  eastward  wing  of  the  house.  She  looked 
at  it  for  a  moment,  and  her  eyes  were  full  of  fear  once 
more. 

"  Even  now,"  she  murmured,  "  I  believe  that  we  are 
being  watched.  Look,  do  you  see  anything  ?  " 

He  stood  by  her  side,  but  the  window  was  empty 
enough.  Below,  the  square  and  streets  beyond  were 
strangely  empty.  A  sense  of  desolation  brooded  over 
the  place. 

"  I  see  nothing,"  he  answered.  "  I  really  don't  think 
that  we  need  alarm  ourselves." 

She  drew  him  away  to  the  lounge  heaped  with  furs 
and  drawn  up  to  the  fire.  An  easel  was  standing  in  one 
corner  of  the  room,  and  behind  a  piano.  The  walls 
were  hung  with  water-colours  and  sketches,  and  the  air 
was  fragrant  with  the  odour  of  burning  logs.  Beyond 
was  an  inner  apartment. 

"  You  are  the  first  man,  except  Nicholas  my  brother," 
she  said,  "  who  has  ever  been  in  here.  Remember  that, 
please,  and  be  very  obedient.  You  will  do  all  that  I  tell 
you.  Will  you  promise  ?  " 

"  Blindly,"  he  answered,  "  if  you  will  ask  me  nothing 
impossible." 

"  I  shall  not  do  that.  I  am  going  to  ask  you  some- 
thing for  your  own  good.  You  must  leave  off  writing 
those  letters  to  the  English  newspapers." 


,- 


THE  TRAITORS  271 

He  was  suddenly  very  quiet  and  still.  But  he  turned 
and  looked  at  her. 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  Because  it  is  for  your  safety,  for  the  good  of  Theos, 
and  because  it  is  my  wish." 

"  Your  wish — and  whose  else  ?  " 

"  My  brother's." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  She  saw  signs  of  a 
new  sternness  about  the  closely-drawn  lips,  the  steel- 
grey  eyes,  from  which  a  momentary  tenderness  seemed 
to  have  vanished. 

"  It  is  true,  then,  what  I  hear,"  he  said,  slowly. 
"  Your  brother  has  deserted  the  King  ? " 

The  change  in  her  mood  matched  his.  She  drew  herself 
up  and  looked  at  him  with  flashing  eyes  and  uplifted  head. 

"  My  brother  will  not  continue  his  allegiance  to  a 
sovereign  who  proposes  to  raise  a  tradesman's  daughter 
to  the  throne  of  Theos,  and  who  has  offered  an  insult  to 
our  family." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  talk  like  this,"  he  answered. 
11  The  King  has  not  willingly  affronted  you.  It  was 
your  brother  to  whom  he  owes  his  throne.  He  has  not 
forgotten  it — he  is  never  likely  to  forget  it.  He  re- 
garded you  both  as  his  best  friends  here.  As  for  Sara 
Van  Decht,  the  King  would  take  no  step  without  the 
sanction  and  consent  of  his  people.  She  will  be  one  of 
the  richest  women  in  Europe,  and  the  whole  of  her 
dowry  would  be  spent  for  the  good  of  Theos.  Even 
then  if  the  voice  of  the  people  were  against  it  the  King 
would  yield.  The  one  aim  of  his  life  is  the  welfare  of 
Theos  and  her  people." 


272  THE  TRAITORS 

"  So  far  in  his  care  of  them,"  she  said,  scornfully, 
"  he  has  met  with  but  little  success.  When  before  have 
the  Turks  crossed  the  frontier  of  our  territory  ?  When 
before  have  we  been  in  such  grievous  straits  as  these  ?  " 

"  For  these  things,"  he  answered,  "  the  King  is  blame- 
less. This  invasion  of  Theos  is  a  long  planned  under- 
taking. Nothing  could  have  stopped  it.  I  believe  that 
no  other  man  in  the  world  would  have  met  the  situation 
with  so  much  skill  and  so  resourcefully." 

She  was  silent  for  a  moment.  Her  very  calmness 
seemed  ominous.  It  seemed  to  him  that  underneath  she 
was  trembling  with  passion. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  "  I  wonder  that  you  are  so  blinded 
by  this  senseless  prejudice  against  the  King.  But  leave 
him  for  the  moment  out  of  the  question.  You  love 
your  country.  For  centuries  the  name  of  your  family 
has  been  a  great  one  in  the  history  of  Theos.  Yet  to- 
day both  you  and  your  brother  are  making  a  terrible 
mistake.  You  are  drifting  towards  her  enemies." 

"  Enough  !  "  she  cried.  "  I  can  see  that  you  are  still 
for  the  King." 

"  Most  surely,"  he  answered. 

"  You  will  not  discontinue  those  letters  ?  " 

"  No ! " 

She  pointed  to  the  door. 

"  Find  your  way  out — if  you  can,"  she  ordered,  fu- 
riously. "  I  do  not  care  what  becomes  of  you.  Only 
leave  me  ! " 

He  took  a  quick  step  towards  her,  and  grasped  her 
wrists. 

"  Marie,"    he    said,    with    a   sudden   hoarse   passion, 


THE  TRAITORS  273 

"you  can  send  me  out  to  be  shot  if  you  like,  but  you 
shall  kiss  me  first." 

Her  anger  passed  away  like  magic.  Her  slender  arms 
drew  his  face  down  to  hers.  Her  eyes  were  soft  with 
tears. 

"  Dear,"  she  murmured,  "  you  shall  not  leave  me  like 
this.  I  thought  that  you  had  come  here  to  join  us — 
because  you  knew  that  I  wanted  you.  And  you  speak 
only  of  the  King  as  your  friend — who,  is  our  enemy. 
Will  you  not  be  reasonable  ?  There  are  brighter  days 
in  store  for  Theos.  Stay  with  us  and  share  them." 

He  shook  his  head  sadly. 

"  You  are  being  deceived,"  he  said.  "  There  is  only 
one  man  who  can  save  this  country,  and  that  man  is 
Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus.  He  is  honest — Domiloff  is  a 
rogue.  These  schemes  of  his  have  but  one  possible 
ending,  and  that  is  slavery  for  Theos — the  total  loss  of 
her  independence.  Oh,  it  is  all  so  plain,  Marie — Domi- 
loff's  wiles  are  so  transparent.  Let  me  see  your  brother 
and  reconcile  him  to  the  King." 

"  It  is  too  late,"  she  answered.     "  It  is  impossible." 

"I  have  come  here  with  a  message  from  the  King  to 
him,"  he  declared.  "  I  must  at  least  deliver  it." 

Her  eyes  gleamed  with  passion.  Suddenly  she  threw 
her  arms  around  his  neck. 

"You  are  very  foolish,  and  I  don't  know  why  I 
should  care  for  you,"  she  cried,  "  but  I  do,  I  do  !  Lis- 
ten. This  is  not  your  country.  You  are  not  a  Thetian 
subject  j  the  King  has  no  claim  upon  you.  If  you  will 
not  help  us,  go  away  until  it  is  all  over.  You  can  easily 
do  that.  Go  away  and  wait.  I  will  send  for  you  when 


274  THE  TRAITORS 

it  is  all  over.  You  will  see  then  that  I  was  right.  No  ! 
you  must  not  kiss  me  any  more,  dear.  You  must  do  as 
I  say.  Listen  !  " 

She  sprang  away  from  him.  There  were  footsteps  in 
the  corridor  outside.  Her  face  was  ashen,  a  look  of 
terror  flashed  in  her  eyes. 

"  They  have  found  you  out,"  she  cried.  "  It  is 
Domiloff  and  his  men.  Heaven  help  us  !  J\ 


- 


CHAPTER  XLI 

BUT,  after  all,  it  was  only  Nicholas  of  Reist  who 
entered.  He  closed  the  door  behind  him  carefully,  and 
approached  them.  Brand  stepped  forward. 

"  I  have  a  message  for  you,"  he  said. 

Reist  smiled. 

"  A  message  which  it  seems  you  found  necessary  to 
deliver  to  my  sister,"  he  remarked.  "I  have  not  been 
informed  of  your  desire  to  see  me." 

"  I  should  not  have  left  the  house  without  doing  so," 
Brand  answered.  "  My  message  is  from  the  King." 

"  Proceed." 

Reist  stood  motionless  before  the  window.  In  the 
clear  daylight  the  physical  change  in  the  man  was  pain- 
ful enough  to  witness.  The  flesh  had  fallen  away  from 
his  cheeks,  leaving  great  hollows  underneath  his  eyes. 
His  forehead  was  furrowed  with  lines,  his  pallor  was  un- 
natural and  unwholesome.  Brand  saw  these  things,  and 
wondered  more  than  ever  how  the  defection  of  such  a 
man  could  have  been  brought  about. 

"The  King  bade  me  seek  you  out  and  remind  you 
that  in  all  human  probability  before  to-morrow's  sun  has 
set  the  great  battle  will  have  been  fought.  The  Turks 
are  concentrating  before  Solika,  and  it  is  there  that  we 
shall  fight.  Your  men  are  asking  for  you.  At  such  a 
crisis  in  the  history  of  your  country  the  King  does  not 
believe  that  you  will  be  content  to  sit  in  idleness.  He 

275 


276  THE  TRAITORS 

bids  you  come,  and  afterwards  seek  for  redress,  if  any  is 
needed,  in  the  matters  which  rest  between  you  and 
him." 

"  I  thank  you,"  Reist  said,  slowly.  "  To  the  King  I 
return  no  answer  to  his  message.  To  you  I  say  this. 
I  have  lost  confidence  in  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus.  I  re- 
gret that  my  hand  ever  raised  him  to  the  throne.  I 
recognize  him  no  longer  as  the  ruler  of  this  country." 

"  Theji  jrou  are  a  rebel?"  Brand  exclaimed.  "Is 
that  what  you  mean  ?  " 

Reist's  dark  eyes  were  lit  with  fire. 

"  Be  careful,  sir,"  he  said,  fiercely.  "  Those  are  not 
the  words  to  be  used  to  a  Duke  of  Reist.  By  inherit- 
ance and  by  virtue  of  my  name  I,  too,  am  the  guardian 
of  these  people  of  Theos.  I  have  lived  with  them  all 
my  life,  as  did  my  fathers  and  my  grandfathers  before 
me.  Their  freedom  and  their  happiness  are  a  solemn 
charge  to  me.  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  is  not  able  to  maintain  for  them 
either." 

"  Then  who  is  ?  "  Brand  asked.  "  This  war  is  none 
of  his  seeking.  How  in  God's  name  could  he  do  more 
for  Theos  than  stand  at  the  head  of  her  people  with 
drawn  sword,  prepared  to  die  rather  than  submit  to  this 
barbarous  invasion  ?  Is  there  higher  patriotism  than 
this?" 

"  The  King  is  your  friend,"  Reist  answered,  "  and 
you  judge  him  from  your  own  standpoint.  Yet  I  am 
willing  to  admit  that  he  is  a  brave  man.  Few  cowards 
have  ever  sprung  from  Thetian  stock.  But  bravery  is 
not  everything,  and  in  the  present  case  it  can  avail  him 


,- 


THE  TRAITORS  277 


nothing.  The  gdjds,  are  too  overwhelming.  If  Theos 
is  to  be  saved  it  will  not  be  at  the  point  of  the  sword." 

Brand  was  within  an  ace  of  losing  his  temper.  His 
cheeks  were  flushed  and  his  voice  was  not  so  steady  as 
usual. 

"  Theos  will  never  be  saved  by  those  who  plot  with 
such  rogues  as  Domiloff  behind  the  city  walls,"  he 
exclaimed.  "  Duke  of  Reist,  I  know  you  to  be  a  brave 
man,  or  I  would  not  dare  to  use  these  words  to  you. 
You  are  being  grossly  deceived.  The  Turks,  and  now 
you,  are  the  catspaw  of  Russia.  DomilofF's  mission  is 
to  secure  Theos  for  a  Russian  state.  Oh,  can't  you  see 
through  his  miserable  scheming  ?  I  am  an  outsider  in 
the  game.  Perhaps  for  that  reason  I  am  the  better 
judge  —  I  see  the  clearer.  It  is  so  simple  !  There  will 
be  a  supposed  rising  of  the  people.  You,  or  another  of 
DomilofF's  puppets,  will  be  set  up  as  King  or  Protector. 
The  hand  of  Turkey  will  be  stayed  I  grant  you,  but  at 
the  cost  of  an  indemnity  which  you  will  never  be  able  to 
pay.  There  will  be  a  Russian  loan,  secured  upon  the 
customs  and  the  receipts  of  the  country.  Every  link  in 
the  chain  of  bondage  is  as  clear  as  day.  Russians  will 
stream  over  your  frontiers  and  settle  in  your  cities. 
Everywhere  Theos  will  have  to  give  way  to  the  new 
influence.  In  ten  years  at  the  most  the  thing  will  be 
complete.  Theos  will  become  a  second  Poland.  Duke 
of  Reist,  you  are  at  heart  a  patriot  and  a  brave  soldier, 
but  you  are  no  match  for  DomilofF  in  what  he  would 
call  his  modern  diplomacy.  Arrest  him.  His  presence 
in  the  city  is  illegal.  You  have  every  justification.  Out 
to  the  camp  and  take  your  place  by  the  King's  side.  I 


278  THE  TRAITORS 

know  something  of  war,  and  I  know  that  your  cause  is 
far  from  hopeless.  At  least  you  can  hold  the  Turks  in 
check,  and  I  tell  you  that  intervention  is  no  longer  a 
dream.  England  is  at  this  moment  hesitating,  and  if 
she  moves  Germany  will  stand  by  her.  Don't  make  the 
mistake  of  your  life.  Take  down  your  sword,  order 
your  horses  and  ride  with  me  to  Solika." 

It  was  obvious  that  Reist  was  moved.  A  spot  of 
colour  burned  in  his  cheeks,  and  he  glanced  for  a 
moment  at  his  sister  as  though  for  guidance.  She  too 
was  agitated.  Brand  turned  to  her. 

"  Countess,"  he  exclaimed,  "  will  you  not  add  your 
words  to  mine  ?  I  come  here  as  your  friend.  The 
King  is  guiltless  of  all  offence  towards  you.  Plead  with 
your  brother.  Beg  him  to  ride  with  me  to  the  King." 

She  laid  her  hand  softly  upon  his. 

"My  friend,"  she  said,  "you  have  spoken  like  a  brave 
man  and  an  honest  man,  and  both  my  brother  and  I 
respect  you  very  much  for  it.  But  you  are  a  stranger 
here,  and  we  are  Thetians.  We  know  our  country  and 
her  needs  better  than  you.  We  do  not  believe  that 
Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  is  the  man  to  save  her.  He  is  too, 
what  you  call  in  the  west,  democratic  for  an  ancient 
kingdom.  The  heart  of  the  people  is  not  with  him. 
As  for  Doiniloff,  we  do  not  trust  wholly  to  him.  We 
are  not  quite  so  blind  as  you  would  have  us  believe. 
Yet  we  need  friends — and,  believe  me — we  shall  know 
how  to  reward  them.  Stay  here  with  us,  Mr.  Brand. 
We  will  try  to  treat  you  so  that  you  shall  never  regret  it." 

The  upward  glance  of  her  dark  eyes  was  eloquent 
enough,  but  Brand  only  shook  his  head. 


^ 


THE  TRAITORS  279 

"I  am  for  the  King,"  he  said. 

"And  I,"  the  Duke  of  Reist  said,  with  a  sudden 
vehemence,  "  am  for  my  country.  Mr.  Brand,  you  are 
answered.  You  have  my  permission  to  repeat  the  whole 
of  our  conversation  to  the  King.  Now  as  to  yourself. 
You  are  a  brave  man,  and  I  do  not  care  to  see  harm 
come  to  such.  Leave  this  house  at  once.  Marie  will 
show  you  an  exit  from  this  side.  You  are  in  danger 
from  which  even  I  am  powerless  to  protect  you." 

"  I  thank  you,"  Brand  answered,  taking  up  his  hat. 
"Your  friend  Domiloff  is,  I  suppose,  still  anxious  as  to 
my  whereabouts.  And  in  all  probability — here  he  is." 

, 


CHAPTER  XLII 

THERE  was  a  sharp  tap  at  the  door.  Marie  and  her 
brother  exchanged  quick  glances.  Brand  stepped  for- 
ward, but  Marie  waved  him  back. 

"  Who  is  there  ?  "  she  called  out. 

"  It  is  I,  Baron  Domiloff,"  was  the  suave  answer. 
"  I  regret  very  much  to  intrude,  but  I  have  urgent 
business  with  your  friend  Mr.  Brand.  Can  I  come 
in?" 

She  hesitated.  After  all,  any  attempt  to  keep  him 
out  must  be  futile. 

"You  can  come  in,"  she  answered. 

The  door  opened,  and  Domiloff  entered.  He  bowed 
low  before  the  Countess,  but  there  was  an  evil  smile 
upon  his  lips  when  his  eyes  met  Brand's. 

"  This  is  a  very  fortunate  meeting,  Mr.  Brand,"  he 
declared.  "  It  saves  us  the  trouble  of  searching  for  you. 
Only  an  hour  ago,  my  dear  sir,  the  Countess  and  I  were 
speaking  of  you." 

"So  far  as  the  Countess  was  concerned,"  Brand 
answered,  dryly,  "  I  am  honoured." 

Domiloff  shrugged  his  shoulders.  He  turned  to 
Nicholas  with  a  smile  which  was  meant  to  be  good- 
humoured. 

"  Mr.  Brand  imagines  perhaps  that  I  bear  him  some 
ill-will  for  that  previous  little  rencontre  between  us,  in 
which,  by  the  bye,  I  must  admit  that  I  had  very  much 


THE  TRAITORS  281 

the  worst  of  it.  I  can  assure  him  most  sincerely  that  it 
is  not  so." 

Brand  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  We  have  met  since  then,  Baron  Domiloff,  I  think," 
he  said,  "  and  even  you  must  admit  that  a  revolver  bullet 
through  one's  hat  is  scarcely  a  message  of  good  will." 

Domiloff  was  bewildered.  Was  this  a  joke,  or  was 
his  friend — his  very  good  friend,  Mr.  Walter  Brand — 
under  some  hallucination  ?  Brand  turned  from  him  im- 
patiently. 

"  The  matter  is  not  one  which  will  repay  discussion," 
he  said.  "  Countess,  I  regret  that  I  must  offer  you  my 
adieux." 

Domiloff  held  up  his  hand. 

"  One  moment,"  he  said,  persuasively.  "  We  are  all 
three  here  together  now,  and  the  opportunity  is  too  ex- 
cellent to  be  lost.  The  Duke  of  Reist,  the  Countess, 
and  I  have  something  in  common  to  say  to  you.  You 
will  spare  us  a  few  moments — and  your  best  attention, 
my  dear  Mr.  Brand." 

"  By  all  means,"  Brand  answered.  "  l  Something  in 
common  '  to  say  to  me  sounds  interesting.  I  am  at  your 
service." 

"  It  concerns  the  daily  letters  which  you  cable  from 
here  to  London  on  behalf  of  the  newspaper  to  which 
you  are  attached,"  Domiloff  said,  slowly. 

"  Indeed,"  Brand  answered.  "  I  am  flattered  that  you 
should  have  troubled  to  read  them." 

"  From  a  literary  point  of  view,"  Domiloff  admitted, 
"they  are  admirable.  Politically  I  regret  to  say  that 
we  find  them  mischievous," 


282  THE  TRAITORS 

Brand  laughed  scornfully. 

"  Perhaps  you  are  not  altogether  an  impartial  judge," 
he  remarked.  "  Will  you  proceed,  please  ?  " 

"  Those  letters,  I  am  afraid,  must  be  discontinued," 
Domiloff  said. 

Brand  stared  at  him. 

"  Don't  talk  rubbish,"  he  exclaimed.  " l  Must  be  dis- 
continued,' indeed  !  Why,  I  consider  your  objection  to 
them  the  highest  compliment  which  I  could  possibly 
receive.  As  if  anything  which  you  could  say  would 
make  me  alter  my  views." 

Domiloff  smiled.  It  was  a  very  faint,  but  a  very  evil 
smile. 

"  It  is  not,"  he  protested,  "  what  I  might  say,  but 
what  I  might  do.  I  take  it  for  granted  that  either  the 
Duke  of  Reist  or  the  Countess  has  spoken  with  you  on 
this  matter,  and  I  will  not  therefore  waste  my  breath. 
It  is  sufficient  to  tell  you  this !  Your  present  attitude  is 
harmful  to  what  we  consider  the  best  interests  of  Theos. 
You  must  either  undertake  to  send  no  more  cables  or 
remain  here  as  our  prisoner." 

Brand  glanced  towards  the  Countess,  and  in  his  eyes 
there  was  a  merciless  inquisite  light. 

"  So  I  am  in  a  nest  of  conspirators,"  he  remarked, 
dryly.  "  There  is  no  longer  any  doubt  about  it.  I  do 
not  know,  Baron  Domiloff,  what  magic  you  use  to  per- 
vert honest  men,  but  your  success  is  certainly  astounding. 
Now  let  me  pass." 

With  a  quick  movement  his  revolver  flashed  out, 
and  DomilofF  was  covered^  Perfectly  self-possessed,  the 
Russian  bowed,  and  stood  away  from  the  door,  but 


THE  TRAITORS  283 

Brand  reached  it  only  to  be  confronted  by  half-a-dozen 
naked  sabres.  The  landing  was  held  by  a  small  company 
of  Russian  soldiers. 

"  For  the  protection  of  the  Russian  Embassy,"  Baron 
Domiloff  remarked,  sardonically.  "  Now,  Mr.  Brand, 
will  you  put  your  revolver  away,  and  listen  to  reason  ?  " 

Brand  turned  to  Marie.     He  was  white  with  rage. 

"  Countess,"  he  demanded.  "  I  entered  this  room  at 
your  invitation.  Was  this  arranged  for  ?  Is  this  a  trap 
of  your  setting  ?  " 

A  little  cry  of  pain  broke  from  her  lips.  She  re- 
covered herself  almost  immediately. 

"  Did  I  know,"  she  asked,  "  that  you  were  coming  ?  " 

He  was  silent.  In  his  heart  he  had  already  absolved 
her. 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  "  forgive  me.  I  spoke  hastily. 
Duke  of  Reist,  I  appeal  to  you.  This  is  your  house, 
and  I  entered  it  openly  and  upon  a  legitimate  errand.  I 
remained  here  as  your  guest.  I  demand  a  safe  conduct 
from  it.  Order  that  man  to  remove  his  soldiers." 

Marie  stepped  forward. 

"  Nicholas,"  she  cried,  "he  is  right.  We  cannot  have 
the  Reist  house  turned  into  a  nest  of  brigands.  Baron 
Domiloff,  these  are  my  apartments.  Your  presence  is 
an  intrusion  which  I  do  not  choose  to  tolerate.  Be 
so  good  as  to  withdraw  and  take  your  men  with  you." 

"  My  dear  lady,"  he  declared,  "  it  is  impossible." 

A  fierce  answer  trembled  upon  Marie's  lips,  but 
Nicholas  held  out  his  hand. 

"Silence,  Marie,"  he  said.  "  Mr.  Brand  has  made  an 
appeal  which  it  is  very  difficult  for  me  to  ignore.  He  is 


284  THE  TRAITORS 

under  my  roof,  and  to  some  extent  he  is  entitled  to  my 
protection.  But  there  are  limits  to  the  obligations  even 
of  hospitality.  There  have  been  things  spoken  of  in  his 
presence  which  must  not  be  repeated." 

"  The  safety  and  welfare  of  Theos,"  Domiloff  said, 
solemnly,  "  must  eclipse  all  other  considerations.  Mr. 
Brand  came  here  of  his  own  accord." 

Reist  turned  to  Brand. 

"  Are  you  prepared,"  he  said,  "  to  keep  silence  as  to 
all  that  has  transpired  since  you  crossed  the  threshold 
of  this  house  ?  I  will  be  content  with  your  word  of 
honour." 

"  No  !  "  Brand  answered,  firmly.  "  I  cannot  make 
any  such  promise." 

Marie  turned  upon  them  both  with  flaming  cheeks. 

"  Let  the  King  know  all,"  she  cried.  "  What  does  it 
matter  now  ?  This  is  my  house,  as  well  as  yours, 
Nicholas,  and  I  say  that  Mr.  Brand  shall  leave  it  when 
and  how  he  pleases.  Baron  Domiloff,  I  order  you  to 
withdraw,  and  take  your  soldiers  with  you." 

But  Domiloff  only  shook  his  head. 

"  Countess,"  he  said,  "  for  your  brother's  sake  and 
the  sake  of  Theos  I  cannot  do  as  you  ask.  This  man's 
silence  for  a  few  days  at  least  is  the  one  thing  necessary 
to  secure  our  success." 

"  Then  my  silence  will  be  the  silence  of  death,"  Brand 
answered,  fiercely.  "  If  you  will  not  let  me  pass  peace- 
ably, I  shall  fight  my  way  as  far  as  I  am  able.  Stand 
away,  Domiloff.  You  cursed  spy." 

Marie  sprang  between  them.  She  pushed  Brand 
back. 


THE  TRAITORS  285 

"  Nicholas,"  she  said,  "  this  is  not  your  affair.  It  is  be- 
tween Baron  Domiloff  and  myself.  You  recognize  that  ?  " 

"  Entirely  !  "  he  answered. 

"  Then  will  you  leave  it  in  my  hands  ? "  she  begged. 

He  hesitated  for  a  moment,  but  a  glance  into  her  face 
reassured  him. 

"  I  am  content,"  he  said,  and  left  them. 

She  turned  to  Domiloff. 

"  Baron,"  she  said,  "  if  you  do  not  let  Mr.  Brand  pass 
unhurt  our  compact  is  at  an  end." 

He  held  up  his  hands  in  eager  expostulation. 

"  I  wish  your  friend  no  harm,  Countess,"  he  declared, 
"  but  believe  me,  his  reports  are  doing  us  every  possible 
injury.  Besides,  he  will  carry  word  of  this  to  the  King. 
It  is  impossible  to  let  him  go.  I  will  withdraw  my  men 
if  you  like,  while  you  reason  with  him.  It  is  his  silence 
only  we  require." 

She  turned  to  Brand. 

"  You  hear  ?  " 

He  nodded. 

"  My  silence,"  he  answered,  "  is  not  to  be  bought. 
The  King  is  my  friend,  and  his  cause  is  mine.  Apart 
from  that  it  is  my  duty  as  an  honest  man  to  upset  the 
scheming  of  such  rogues  as  that,"  he  pointed  to  Domiloff. 
"  In  two  minutes,  Countess,  I  shall  leave  this  room — 
dead  or  alive." 

Domiloff  was  very  pale,  but  he  remained  calm.  Marie 
left  him  and  placed  her  hands  in  Brand's.  She  looked 
up  into  his  face  fondly. 

"  You  are  quite  right,"  she  said.  "  I  honour  you  for 
your  words." 


286  THE  TRAITORS 

Then  she  turned  to  Domiloff. 

"Listen,"  she  said.  "You  will  permit  Mr.  Brand  to 
pass  uninjured,  or  I  shall  go  at  once  to  Nicholas,  and 
tell  him  not  only  all  that  I  know,  but  what  I  suspect. 
You  understand  me !  I  shall  tell  him — the  whole  truth. 
I  go  also  to  the  King,  and  I  tell  him — the  whole  truth. 
I  go  also  to  the  House  of  Laws,  I  anticipate  your  proc- 
lamation to  them,  and  I  announce — the  whole  truth. 
These  are  not  empty  threats.  I  swear  to  you  that  I 
will  do  these  things." 

Domiloff  regarded  her  thoughtfully.  His  expression 
was  inscrutable. 

"  You  will  not  risk  the  success  of  all  our  plans," 
he  said,  slowly.  "  You  will  even  sacrifice  your  country 
that  this  man  may  go  safely.  You  are  serious  ?  It 
is  in  your  mind  that  you  are  the  Countess  Marie  of 
Reist,  and  he — the  paid  writer  in  an  English  news- 
paper. Forgive  me  that  I  speak  of  this.  It  is  in- 
credible." 

"  It  is  nevertheless  true,"  she  answered,  firmly. 
"  Your  answer." 

He  bowed  low. 

"  Mr.  Walter  Brand,"  he  said,  "  is  fortunate.  He  is 
welcome  to  depart." 

"Wait!" 

She  crossed  the  room,  and  from  a  cedar  box  on  the 
mantelshelf  drew  out  a  small  shining  revolver.  She 
stood  facing  Domiloff. 

"  My  friend,"  she  said,  "  so  I  shall  remain  until  Mr. 
Brand  has  left  the  house  and  waves  to  me  from  the 
street  below.  And  if  there  is  treachery  I  give  you 


. 


THE  TRAITORS  287 

my  word  that  I  shall  fire.  You  have  seen  me  use  a 
revolver.  You  know  that  this  is  not  play  with 
me." 

"  Mr.  Brand,"  he  repeated,  "  is  fortunate  indeed." 

X 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

ONCE  more  the  beacons  flared  in  a  long,  lurid  line 
from  the  mountain-tops,  rockets  screamed  into  the  night, 
and  away  from  south  of  Solika  came  the  heavy  roll  of 
guns  plainly  to  be  heard  in  the  anxious  city.  Rumours 
were  plentiful.  The  Turks  were  already  streaming 
through  the  passes !  A  great  battle  was  on  hand ! 
Solika  had  fallen  !  The  streets  and  squares  of  Theos 
were  filled  with  an  excited  and  restless  mob,  mostly 
composed  of  old  men,  children,  and  women,  with  a 
sprinkling  of  foreigners.  The  outdoor  cafes  were  filled, 
people  stood  about  in  little  knots  together,  talking 
eagerly.  Up  at  the  railway  station  a  constant  stream 
of  refugees  waited  patiently  for  trains  to  take  them 
northwards. 

There  were  no  trams  running,  or  carriages.  The 
Government  had  subsidized  the  horses,  and  most  of  the 
men  had  gone  to  the  front.  All  night  long  gangs  of 
navvies  in  squads  were  working  at  the  fortifications  by 
searchlight.  From  all  the  country  places  stores  were 
pouring  in. 

Towards  morning  the  roar  of  distant  artillery  in- 
creased, and  those  who  listened  keenly  fancied  that  they 
could  hear  the  sharper  rattle  of  Maxims  and  machine- 
guns.  Trains  began  to  crawl  in  from  the  front  full  of 
wounded.  From  them  something  of  the  truth  was  gath- 
ered. The  King  had  made  a  forced  march,  himself  had 

288 


- 


THE  TRAITORS  289 

crossed  the  frontier,  and  fiercely  attacked  the  Turkish 
army.  So  far  all  had  gone  well.  The  Turks  were 
falling  back,  and  had  already  lost  two  guns. 

In  the  grey  dawn  Sara  hastened  to  the  hospital,  which 
was  already  almost  full.  The  regular  nurses  were  out  at 
the  front,  and  their  places  were  mostly  taken  by  volun- 
teers— the  suggestion  having  come  from  Sara  herself. 
Everywhere  the  news  was  being  eagerly  discussed. 
Solika  was  being  turned  into  a  military  base.  At  Althea 
the  position  had  been  so  strengthened  as  to  be  now  im- 
pregnable. The  King  was  the  idol  of  his  army,  and  the 
military  fever  burned  fiercely. 

At  midday,  news  !  A  telegram  from  Solika  announced 
that  the  King  was  returning  across  the  frontier,  having 
completely  scattered  the  Turkish  army,  inflicted  great 
loss  upon  them,  and  captured  four  guns.  The  Town 
Master  caused  a  copy  of  the  telegram  to  be  posted  in  the 
market-place,  and  the  bells  of  the  Cathedral  were  rung. 
Later  on  it  was  whispered  about  that  the  victory  had 
come  very  near  being  turned  into  total  and  irredeemable 
disaster.  For  the  Thetians,  chasing  the  flying  Turks 
through  a  difficult  country,  were  suddenly  met  by  an 
unexpected  rally,  and  stretching  on  both  sides  of  them 
like  a  gigantic  crescent  was  a  great  army  of  reinforce- 
ments. With  great  skill  Ughtred  had  extricated  his 
army,  and  regained  the  shelter  of  Solika.  But  the  joy  of 
their  victory  was  damped.  The  enemy  were  in  strength 
which  seemed  absolutely  overwhelming. 

Towards  afternoon  there  came  shouts  from  the  railway 
station.  Through  the  crowd,  which  gave  him  clear  pas- 
sage, cheering  vigorously,  Ughtred  was  driven  towards 


290  THE  TRAITORS 

the  palace.  He  looked  pale  and  dishevelled,  and  his 
uniform  showed  that  he  had  not  been  an  idle  spectator 
of  the  fighting.  He  waved  his  hand  affectionately  to 
the  crowd,  but  was  clearly  preoccupied.  At  the  palace 
he  sent  for  his  State  Secretary  and  Mr.  Thexis,  the 
leader  of  the  Government  party  in  the  House  of  Laws. 
An  informal  Council  meeting  was  summoned,  and  has- 
tily attended  by  the  leading  members  of  the  House. 


An  hour  afterwards  Sara  was  summoned  from  the 
midst  of  her  work  at  the  hospital  by  an  urgent  note. 
At  the  Villa  she  found  Ughtred  waiting  for  her. 

"  You,"  she  cried,  softly.  "  How  dare  you  fetch  me 
away  from  my  work  ?  " 

Then,  as  a  clearer  impression  of  his  appearance  came 
to  her,  standing  in  the  white  noonday  sunshine,  she  be- 
came anxious. 

"  You  are  not  hurt  ?  "  she  cried.  "  Nothing  has  gone 
amiss  ? " 

He  tightened  his  clasp  upon  her  hands. 

"  Hurt,  no  !  I  took  too  great  care  of  myself.  We 
have  won  our  first  battle,  too,  Sara.  My  men  fought 
splendidly." 

She  nodded. 

"  At  the  hospital,"  she  said,  "  even  the  badly  wounded 
are  full  of  enthusiasm.  Tell  me  !  You  have  more 
news,  have  you  not  ?  " 

He  nodded. 

"  We  crossed  the  border  in  pursuit,"  he  said,  "  and 
we  saw  with  our  own  eyes  what  the  scouts  who  are 


..- 


THE  TRAITORS  291 

coming  in  continually  report.  The  whole  of  the  Turk- 
ish army  has  been  mobilized,  and  is  being  massed  upon 
our  borders.  That  is  to  say,  tw^.  hundred  thousand  of 
the  finest ;_  soldiers  in  the  world  are  almost  at  our  gates. 
All  told,  we  number  sixteen  thousand." 

The  tears  stood"  in  her  eyes.  She  pressed  his  hands 
silently. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  don't  understand  these  things,"  she 
said,  "  but  an  unprovoked  attack  like  this  seems  like  a 
return  to  ancient  history.  It  is  barbarous.  Can  you 
not  appeal  to  the  Powers  ?  " 

"  That  I  have  done,"  he  answered,  sadly,  "  but  you 
must  remember  that  this  is  the  fruit  of  Russia's  in- 
trigue. Turkey  is  only  a  catspaw.  She  holds  France, 
of  course,  and  the  eternal  policy  of  Germany  is  to  keep 
friends  with  Russia.  There  is  only  England." 

"  England,"  she  cried,  hopefully.  u  Why  you  are 
half  English  yourself.  England  will  surely  interfere." 

"  It  is  a  great  deal  to  ask,"  he  answered,  seriously. 
"  My  friendship  can  be  of  little  account  to  her,  and  it  is 
asking  her  to  risk  a  war  for  the  sake  of  an  abstract  prin- 
ciple. Diplomatically,  England  would  be  very  unwise 
to  interfere.  As  a  great  and  generous  country  I  have 
appealed  to  her.  But,  Sara,  I  have  little  hope." 

"  And  if  she  does  not  ?  " 

"  If  she  does  not  I  shall  put  the  issue  plainly  before 
my  people.  If  they  prefer  a  glorious  death  to  serfdom, 
I  too,  being  of  their  mind,  shall  fight  till  this  war  be- 
comes a  massacre." 

She  smiled  at  him  bravely. 

"  Europe  will  never  permit  it,  dear,"  she  said.     "  It 


292  THE  TRAITORS 

would  be  too  terrible.  See,  I  have  faith  in  your  destiny 
— and  my  luck.  I  am  not  even  afraid." 

The  courtyard  rang  with  the  sound  of  hoofs.  A  mes- 
senger from  the  telegraph  corps  entered  at  the  King's 
summons. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  announced,  "I  have  to  an- 
nounce that  an  hour  ago  a  trainload  of  Cossacks,  num- 
bering about  five  hundred,  arrived  at  the  frontier  and 
demanded  permission  to  continue  their  journey  to 
Theos.  Captain  Operman,  in  accordance  with  your 
instructions,  demanded  their  passport.  They  had  none 
to  give,  but  their  colonel  produced  papers  which  con- 
tained their  route  to  Theos  for  the  protection  of  the 
Russian  Embassy  there.  In  further  accordance  with 
your  Majesty's  instructions,  Captain  Operman  then  re- 
plied that  Theos  was  in  a  perfectly  peaceful  state,  and 
the  Russian  Embassy  was  amply  protected  by  its  flag 
from  both  belligerents.  The  colonel  in  command  of  the 
Cossacks  replied  that  his  orders  were  absolute  to  proceed 
to  Theos,  and  he  had  no  alternative  but  to  obey  them. 
Captain  Operman  replied  that  his  orders  too  were  abso- 
lute, and  he  could  not  permit  an  armed  body  of  men  to 
cross  the  frontier.  In  reply  to  this  the  Russians  were 
ordered  to  at  once  entrain.  Captain  Operman  once 
more  protested,  and  announced,  according  to  your  Maj- 
esty's instructions,  that  any  further  advance  on  the  part 
of  the  Cossacks  would  constitute  an  invasion  and  be 
recognized  as  an  act  of  war.  There  being  no  reply  to 
this,  your  Majesty's  instructions  were  successfully  car- 
ried out  to  the  letter." 

"  Tell  me  exactly  what  happened,"  Ughtred  asked. 


THE  TRAITORS  293 

"  The  whole  of  the  rolling-stock  available  was  blown 
up  and  the  railway  line  destroyed  beyond  the  possibility 
of  immediate  repair  at  a  dozen  places.  I  regret  to  add 
that  several  of  the  Cossacks  were  slightly  injured  by  the 
explosion." 

"  And  is  there  any  message  from  Captain  Operman 
with  reference  to  horses  ?  "  Ughtred  asked. 

u  In  this  direction  also,"  the  messenger  replied,  "  your 
Majesty's  instructions  have  been  carefully  carried  out. 
The  country  has  been  absolutely  denuded  of  horses.  It 
will  be  impossible  for  the  Russians  to  obtain  more  than 
a  dozen  at  the  outside." 

"  Captain  Operman  has  carried  out  my  instructions 
faithfully  and  well,"  Ughtred  replied. 

The  messenger  bowed. 

"  I  was  further  desired  to  report,  your  Majesty,"  he 
added,  "that  word  has  just  arrived  that  a  series  of  ex- 
plosions have  occurred  at  different  points  along  the  line 
on  the  other  side  of  the  frontier.  Captain  Operman 
makes  no  report  to  your  Majesty  concerning  these,  but 
he  desires  me  to  say  that  their  effect  will  be  to  retard 
all  communication  with  Russia  for  several  days  at  least." 

The  King  smiled. 

"  I  am  well  served  indeed,"  he  said.  "  What  has  be- 
come of  the  Cossacks  ?  " 

"They  are  quartered  at  the  station  buildings,  your 
Majesty.  There  is  no  stock  of  provisions  whatever  in 
the  vicinity,  and  in  case  they  should  attempt  to  march  to 
Theos  all  the  farms  en  route  have  been  warned  to  re- 
move their  cattle  and  stores." 

"You   will   present   my  compliments   and   thanks  to 


294  THE  TRAITORS 

Captain  Operman,"  the  King  said,  "  and  you  will  con- 
gratulate him  on  the  success  and  spirit  with  which  he 
has  carried  out  my  orders.  Further,  you  will  request 
him  to  report  himself  to  me  at  headquarters  at  the 
earliest  possible  opportunity." 

The  messenger  bowed  and  withdrew.  Ughtred  rose 
and  paced  the  room  thoughtfully. 

"  I  expected  this  move  of  Domiloff's,"  he  said,  look- 
ing towards  Sara.  "  You  see  Theos  itself  is  in  a  queer 
state.  Every  honest  man  who  can  bear  arms  is  at  the 
front.  There  remain  in  the  city  only  a  horde  of 
Russian  Jews,  who  I  suspect  have  been  drafted  in  a  few 
at  a  time,  and  are  only  waiting  a  signal  from  Domiloff 
to  begin  rioting." 

He  touched  a  bell. 

"  Let  me  speak  to  Mr.  Ruttens,"  he  ordered.  "  He 
was  in  the  ante-room  a  few  minutes  ago." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  Sara  asked. 

"  I  am  going  to  try  and  arrest  Domiloff,"  he  an- 
swered. "  I  fear  that  it  is  quite  useless,  but  an  attempt 
must  be  made.  There  will  be  some  mischief  before 
long  if  he  is  left  alone." 

Sara  rose  up  and  came  to  his  side. 

"There  are  other  traitors  in  the  city  besides  Domi- 
loff,"  she  said,  "  if  what  they  are  saying  is  true." 

A  deeper  shadow  fell  upon  the  King's  face. 

"  You  mean  the  Reists  ?  " 

"  It  is  common  report." 

"  Nicholas  of  Reist  has  withdrawn  his  allegiance  to 
me,"  Ughtred  said.  "Yet  I  do  not  believe  that  he 
would  be  concerned  in  anything  absolutely  traitorous. 


THE  TRAITORS      .  295 

As  for  the  Countess — I  fear  that  I  have  incurred  her  ill- 
will.  She  is  friendly  too,  they  say,  with  Domiloff.  I 
cannot  see  though  what  mischief  she  can  do.  Ruttens," 
he  added,  turning  towards  the  door,  "  are  there  sufficient 
police  left  in  Theos  to  effect  the  arrest  of  one  man  ?  " 

Ruttens,  grey-bearded,  long  since  a  pensioner,  saluted 
the  King  respectfully. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  answered,  "  it  depends  upon  the 
man." 

"  The  man  is  Baron  Domiloff!  " 

Ruttens  shook  his  head. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  we  can  make  the  attempt. 
Yesterday  it  would  have  been  possible  enough.  But 
last  night  half  the  veterans  and  weaklings  who  have  been 
enrolled  as  special  police  deserted." 

"  Deserted  !  "  the  King  exclaimed,  frowning. 

Ruttens  smiled. 

"  Deserted  in  order  to  make  their  way  to  the  front, 
your  Majesty.  Old  Kennestoff,  who  is  eighty  years  old, 
got  out  his  rifle  and  went,  and  a  dozen  more  well  nigh 
his  age.  I  myself " 

He  hesitated.     The  King's  face  had  cleared. 

"  You  had  my  orders,  Ruttens,  and  my  special  com- 
mission. A  few  good  men  we  must  have  in  Theos." 

"  There  are  rascals  enough,  your  Majesty,"  Ruttens 
said,  with  grave  face.  "  There  are  a  good  many  aliens, 
too,  whose  presence  here  I  cannot  understand.  They 
pay  their  way,  and  hang  round  the  squares  in  little 
groups,  always  whispering  to  themselves.  They  call 
themselves  farmers  and  shopkeepers  from  the  frontier, 
but  there  is  little  of  the  Thetian  in  their  faces  to  my 


296  THE  TRAITORS 

mind.  The  city  were  healthier  cleared  of  them,  your 
Majesty." 

The  King  smiled  bitterly. 

"  But  how,  my  good  Ruttens  ?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  You 
and  your  few  veterans  would  be  powerless  against 
them." 

Ruttens  sighed. 

"  It  is  true,  your  Majesty,"  he  answered.  "  To  be 
frank,  I  have  put  them  down  in  my  mind  as  creatures 
of  Domiloff.  And  though  to-day  I  will  endeavour  to 
effect  his  arrest  I  fear  very  much  that  he  is  well  guarded 
against  anything  of  the  sort." 

Once  more  the  courtyard  rang  with  the  clatter  of 
hoofs.  There  was  commotion  below  and  in  the  palace. 

"  It  is  word  from  the  front,"  the  King  cried. 

The  messenger  stood  before  him. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  announced,  "  General  DartnofF 
has  telegraphed  that  he  is  engaged.  He  adds  that  there 
seems  to  be  some  extensive  movement  preparing." 

Ughtred  tore  himself  away.  Sara  choked  back  a  sob, 
and  held  out  both  her  hands.  At  the  moment  of  parting 
they  were  alone. 

"  Good-bye,  dear,"  she  whispered.  "  Do  your  best 
and  have  faith.  I  am  not  afraid  for  you  or  for  Theos." 

He  kissed  her  and  galloped  away,  followed  by  his  few 
attendants.  Her  cheerfulness  was  inspiring.  His  heart 
swelled  with  pride  at  the  thought  of  her.  She  had 
destroyed  forever  his  lingering  superstition  as  to  the 
obligations  of  race — she  a  daughter  of  the  democracy 
with  the  heart  and  courage  of  a  queen.  Ughtred  had 
passed  through  his  one  hour .  of  weakness.  As  the 


THE  TRAITORS  297 

engine  with  its  one  solitary  carriage  tore  across  the  plain 
to  Solika  a  new  and  finer  hopefulness  was  born  in  him. 
Her  words  and  her  steadfast  optimism  had  fired  his 
blood.  He  would  fight  his  country's  enemy  so  that  for 
very  shame  Europe  should  cry  "  Hold !  "^ 


CHAPTER  XLIV 

IN  his  room,  with  heavy  curtains  closely  drawn  across 
the  barred  windows  to  keep  from  his  ears  the  distant 
mutterings  of  the  guns,  Nicholas  of  Reist  sat  in  torment. 
From  below  in  the  square  he  had  heard  the  people's  fare- 
well to  the  King  as  he  had  hastened  back  to  the  scene 
of  action — the  echoes  of  the  city's  varying  moods  floated 
up  to  him  from  hour  to  hour.  And  whilst  all  was 
activity,  ceaseless,  restless,  he  alone  of  the  men  of  Theos 
sat  idle,  his  hands  before  him,  waiting  for  he  knew  not 
what.  It  was  indeed  torment.  The  blood  of  his  fight- 
ing forefathers  was  burning  in  his  veins.  To  linger 
here  in  miserable  inaction  whilst  the  war  music  throbbed 
in  his  ears  was  like  torture  to  him.  Even  DomilofF  had 
found  it  best  for  the  last  few  days  to  leave  him  alone. 
Besides,  DomilofF  was  busy. 

In  a  small  room  at  the  back  of  the  house  the  Russian 
was  receiving  a  visitor.  Before  the  door  were  half-a- 
dozen  soldiers,  and  the  bolts  were  closely  drawn.  Yet 
even  then  the  conversation  between  the  two  men  was 
tense  and  nervous. 

"  To  have  ventured  here  yourself,"  DomilofF  said, 
drawing  the  shade  more  closely  over  the  lamp,  "  seems 
to  me,  my  dear  Hassen,  a  little  like  bravado.  You  hold 
the  wits  of  this  people  a  little  too  cheaply.  I  am  not 
yet  strong  enough  to  protect  you.  If  you  are  recognized 
you  will  be  shot  at  sight." 

298 


THE  TRAITORS  299 

"  One  runs  risks  always,"  the  other  answered  care- 
lessly, "  and  besides  it  is  your  fault  that  I  am  here. 
Your  inaction  is  unaccountable.  There  has  been  no 
message  from  you  for  three  days.  I  am  afraid  that  you 
are  bungling  matters." 

"  And  you — what  of  you  ?  "  the  other  answered,  hotly. 
"  What  were  your  men  doing  at  Solika  to  be  driven 
back  by  a  handful  of  half-trained  farmers  ?  I  expected 
the  Turks  at  Theos  to-day,  and  all  would  have  been 
well.  Yet  with  eighty  thousand  men  you  do  nothing. 
You  too  who  have  boasted  of  your  soldiers  and  your  ar- 
tillery as  the  equal  of  any  in  Europe." 

The  visitor  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Domiloff,"  he  said,  "  you  are  irritated  and  nervous. 
Be  careful  what  you  say.  I  admit  that  so  far  we  have 
been  checked,  but  it  is  not  sense  to  talk  of  half-trained 
farmers.  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  is  a  fine  soldier.  Mind, 
I  was  with  him  in  Egypt,  and  he  had  a  sound  training 
there.  His  dispositions  against  attack  are  excellent. 
He  has  evidently  been  thinking  them  out  since  first  he 
came  here.  Then  you  told  us  that  he  had  no  modern 
artillery  at  all." 

"  He  had  not,  then,"  Domiloff  answered.  "  These 
batteries  were  a  present  from  a  rich  fool  of  an  American 
or  his  daughter." 

"  The  fair  Sara  Van  Decht !  I  heard  that  she  was 
here." 

"  You  know  her  ?  " 

"  She  visited  at  Colonel  Erlito's  in  London,"  Hassen 
answered.  "  So  did  I.  But  that  is  of  no  consequence. 
You  very  well  know  that  we  relied  upon  your  help  to 


300  THE  TRAITORS 

finish  this  campaign  quickly.  So  far  you  have  done 
nothing.  Perhaps  you  do  not  understand  the  reason  for 
haste.  Let  me  tell  you  this.  Even  now  the  message 
is  before  the  Sultan  waiting  for  his  signature  which 
will  recall  the  troops  and  bring  the  invasion  to  an  end." 

"  Gorteneff  is  in  Constantinople  himself,"  Domiloff 
answered.  "  He  will  not  allow  it  to  be  signed." 

"Gorteneff!  So  is  Sir  Henry  White  in  Constanti- 
nople. You  seem  to  forget  that." 

Domiloff 's  face  was  black. 

"White!  The  Englishman!  Bah!  You  will  not 
tell  me  that  your  master  fears  the  English  any  more. 
Their  day  is  over.  They  have  no  longer  a  place 
amongst  the  Powers." 

Hassen  smiled. 

"  You  exaggerate,"  he  said.  "  England  is  the  only 
country  in  Europe  at  least  who  could  bring  our  master's 
palace  about  his  ears  in  twenty-four  hours,  and  make 
beautiful  Constantinople  a  heap  of  blackened  ruins. 
No,  no,  Domiloff.  My  master  is  wishful  to  serve  you. 
We  are  here — so  far  we  have  done  all  the  work — it  is 
for  your  aid  now  we  ask.  That  is  only  fair.  You  do 
not  seem  to  understand  the  real  reason  for  haste.  I 
know  that  at  any  moment  the  protest  which  White  has 
already  presented  may  be  followed  by  an  ultimatum." 

"  And  your  master  would  regard  it  ?  " 

"  I  am  very  sure  that  he  would,"  Hassen  answered, 
promptly.  "  It  is  not  worth  while  attempting  to  deceive 
you.  If  England  is  really  no  longer  a  country  worthy 
of  consideration,  fight  her  yourself.  I  am  very  sure  that 
we  shall  not.  And  you  must  remember  this,  Domiloff, 


- 


THE  TRAITORS  301 

the  agitation  throughout  England  in  favour  of  Theos  is 
fed  day  by  day  with  letters  from  this  very  city.  The 
writer  must  be  with  you  all  the  time.  Yet  you  permit 
him  to  continue — you  with  your  unscrupulousness  and 
your  secret  agents.  England's  intervention,  if  she  does 
intervene,  is  entirely  your  fault." 

"  Damn  that  fellow,"  Domiloff  muttered  through  his 
teeth. 

"  You  know  who  it  is  !  "  Hassen  exclaimed. 

"Yes!" 

"  And  you  permit  him  to  continue  ?  You  have  made 
no  effort  to  close  his  mouth  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  have  tried,"  Domiloff  answered,  hastily.  "  He 
is  an  Englishman,  and  he  cannot  be  bought.  He  will 
not  listen  to  reason.  And  so  far  as  regards  other  means 
we  have  been  unfortunate.  He  has  a  hat  with  two  bul- 
let holes  in  it." 

Hassen  caught  up  his  hat. 

"  Oh,  I  think  that  it  is  of  no  use  my  staying  here," 
he  said.  "  The  Domiloff  I  have  heard  of  and  used  to 
know  is  not  any  more  in  existence.  That  is  very  certain. 
You  have  let  the  man  write  these  letters  day  by  day  ; 
you  have  had  him  within  the  city  all  this  time,  and  all 
that  you  can  tell  me  is  that  4  he  has  a  hat  with  two  bullet 
holes  in,'  l  you  have  been  unfortunate.'  Bah  !  The 
man  who  makes  history  is  not  the  man  who  fails  in  a 
trifle  like  that." 

Domiloff  ground  his  teeth  together,  but  he  kept  his 
temper. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  "  that  is  all  very  well.  But  you 
do  not  understand  everything.  This  man  is  the  lover  of 


302 


THE  TRAITORS 


the  Countess  of  Reist.  Any  hurt  to  him  would  be  a  mortal 
affront  to  her." 

"  Cannot  she  make  him  hold  his  tongue  ?  "  Hassen 
asked.  "  If  he  is  her  lover  she  should  surely  be  able 
to  bring  him  to  our  side.  The  girl  is  pretty  enough. 
Surely  the  Englishman  is  not  a  Joseph  ?  " 

"  He  is  English,  and  that  is  worse,"  DomilofF  an- 
swered. "  But  this  very  day  we  caught  him  here  in  this 
house.  She  appealed  to  him — offered  him  every  in- 
ducement, implored  him  to  cease  those  letters.  His  ob- 
stinacy was  amazing.  Neither  my  threats  nor  her  prayers 
and  promises  availed.  I  ordered  him  to  be  seized,  and 
then  what  must  she  do  but  turn  round  and  swear  that  if 
he  were  touched  she  would  go  to  the  King — and  she 
would  have  done  it." 

11  So  he  got  away  ?  " 

"  He  got  away." 

Hassen  groaned. 

"  DomilofF,"  he  said,  "  it  is  farewell.  I  do  not  come 
again.  Our  compact  is  at  an  end.  You  are  getting 
old,  DomilofF.  The  days  at  Stamboul  are  long  past. 
1  He  got  away.'  A  change  like  this  in  a  man  is  mar- 
vellous." 

DomilofF  stood  before  the  door.  He  was  very  pale, 
and  his  face  was  not  pleasant  to  look  upon. 

"  Stay  where  you  are,  Hassen,"  he  said.  "  You  have 
come  here,  it  seems,  to  reproach  me  for  inaction,  for  not 
having  helped  you  sufficiently  from  within  the  city. 
Well,  it  is  possible  that  I  have  relied  too  much  upon  the 
result  of  your  coming  into  touch  with  the  Thetians.  I 
expected  your  army  here  before  this,  Hassen.  However, 


THE  TRAITORS  303 

you  did  not  come  here  only  to  complain,  eh  ?  You  have 
a  suggestion  perhaps.  Well,  let  me  hear  it.  As  for  the 
Englishman,  I  will  risk  the  anger  of  Marie  of  Reist. 
He  shall  not  write  another  letter.  Now  what  beyond 
that  ?  I  am  ready.  The  city  is  full  of  my  agents.  If 
only  I  were  to  give  the  word,  Hassen,  you  would  never 
leave  the  city  alive." 

Hassen  laughed  scornfully. 

"  I  have  passed  through  the  Thetian  lines,"  he  said, 
"  and  made  my  way  alone  here,  so  it  is  not  likely  that 
death  could  come  nearer  to  me  than  this.  But,  Domi- 
loff,  you  talk  now  more  like  a  man.  I  will  admit  that 
what  you  said  is  truth.  I  have  come  here  with  a  scheme 
in  mind,  and  it  is  a  good  scheme." 

"  Then  waste  no  more  time,"  DomilofF  said,  quickly, 
"go  on." 

"  There  is  in  it,"  Hassen  said,  "  a  personal  element. 
In  truth  my  master  has  disappointed  me  in  this  cam- 
paign. I  should  have  been  given  the  entire  command, 
and  instead  I  have  only  a  corps.  Now  I  am  stationed, 
as  you  know,  not  at  Solika,  but  at  Althea.  Therefore, 
it  is  my  men  whom  I  would  like  to  bring  into  Theos 
whilst  MellejL_£aSLcba,  who  has  my  place,  is  still  held 
back  at  Solika." 

DomilofF  nodded. 

"  That  is  reasonable,"  he  said,  "  but  the  Althea  passes 
are  impregnable.  I  do  not  think  that  they  can  be  taken 
by  assault  at  all." 

"  Nor  I,"  Hassen  answered,  dryly.  "  I  want  a  safe 
conduct  through  them." 

DomilofF  looked  up  quickly. 


304  THE  TRAITORS 

"  I  see.  But  Klipper,  who  is  in  command  there,  is 
incorruptible." 

"  Klipper  must  be  removed  then.  Now  what  about 
the  Duke  of  Reist,  Domiloff?  He  is  on  our  side,  is  he 
not  ? " 

"  He  is  on  our  side,"  Domiloff  answered,  slowly, 
"  but  unfortunately  he  has  quarrelled  with  the  King. 
He  is  in  the  house  at  this  moment." 

"  Quarrelled  ?  What  folly.  Domiloff,  you  seem  to 
have  bungled  everything  you  have  touched  lately.  What 
is  the  good  of  Reist  to  us  when  he  sits  here  sulking  ?  " 

"  The  good  of  him,"  Domiloff  repeated.  "  Why  he 
is  to  be  our  puppet  King — for  a  month  or  so.  He  is 
simply  invaluable.  Besides,  his  absence  from  the  army 
has  set  people  talking  about  the  King.  It  has  created 
dissatisfaction." 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  Domiloff,"  Hassen  said,  "  but 
have  you  ever  considered  how  very  much  more  useful 
Reist  would  be  to  us  if  he  were  outwardly  on  friendly 
terms  with  the  King,  near  him  now  and  at  the  head  of 
his  men — and  all  the  time  ours  ?  " 

"  It  is  without  doubt  true,  but  you  do  not  know 
Nicholas  of  Reist,"  Domiloff  said,  dryly.  "  He  is  not 
of  the  stuff  from  which  conspirators  are  fashioned. 
This  quarrel  with  the  King  has  cost  me  endless  trouble. 
He  would  never  play  a  traitor's  part,  as  he  would  call  it, 
secretly." 

Hassen  smiled  grimly. 

"  Listen,  Domiloff,"  he  said.  "  If  Nicholas  of  Reist 
were  to  go  to  the  King  and  hold  out  his  hand,  and  beg 
his  pardon,  would  the  King  receive  him  ?  " 


THE  TRAITORS  305 

"  Of  course." 

"  Would  he  give  him  the  command  at  Althea  if  he 
were  to  ask  for  it  ?  " 

"  Without  a  doubt." 

"  Then  he  must  ask  for  it  and  get  it.  Then  I  will 
talk  to  him  if  you  find  him  so  difficult.  These  are  not 
times  for  neutrality.  He  must  be  for  the  King  or 
against  the  King.  With  the  Althean  passes  unguarded 
for  an  hour  the  thing  is  done.  Then  there  can  be  as 
much  intervention  as  you  like.  Theos  will  be  ours." 

Domiloff  stood  silent,  with  knitted  brows  and  down- 
cast eyes. 

"  The  scheme  is  good,"  he  said,  "  but  I  fear  very 
much  whether  Reist  will  consent." 

"  He  will  have  to,"  Hassen  answered,  coolly.  "  He 
is  your  man,  is  he  not  ?  He  has  already  committed  him- 
self too  deeply  to  draw  back.  You  can  show  him  that 
it  is  for  the  salvation  of  Theos." 

"You  shall  show  him  yourself,"  Domiloff  answered. 
"  I  will  take  you  to  him.  You  will  understand  then  the 
mood  of  the  man  with  whom  we  have  to  deal." 

Hassen  held  up  his  hand. 

"  You  forget,"  he  said.  "  The  Duke  of  Reist  and  I 
are  ancient  enemies.  I  was  in  command  when  we 
raided  the  frontier  ten  years  ago.  Perhaps  my  men 
were  a  little  rough  to  their  prisoners — I  forget  the  cir- 
cumstances now,  but  there  was  trouble  between  us." 

Domiloff  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"So  was  I  his  enemy  a  short  time  ago,"  he  answered. 
"  It  is  barely  a  month  since  the  name  of  a  Russian  was 
like  poison  to  him.  But  those  things  are  forgotten  now. 


3o6  THE  TRAITORS 

Reist  is  ours — absolutely.  Our  friends  must  be  his 
friends,  and  our  enemies  his.  So  I  shall  take  you  to 
him.  Believe  me,  it  will  be  best." 

Even  then  Hassen  hesitated.  The  memory  of  Reist's 
outburst  in  London  was  still  before  him.  But  Domi- 
loff  had  already  opened  the  door. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  softly,  "  I  know  that  Reist  is 
alone." 


CHAPTER  XLV 

IT  seemed  to  Reist  that  this  was  the  supreme  moment 
of  his  indignity.  He  stood  before  the  two  men,  white- 
faced,  hollow-eyed,  speechless.  And  Marie,  who  had 
joined  their  councils,  watched  him  anxiously. 

"Nicholas,"  she  said,  "this  may  sound  to  you  a 
terrible  thing.  Indeed,  I  myself  wish  that  there  were 
another  way.  But  there  are  many  things  to  be  con- 
sidered. It  will  save  bloodshed,  and  it  will  end  the 
war.  With  Theos  lost,  Ughtred  and  the  Solika  army 
must  surrender.  After  that " 

"  Aye,  after  that,"  Reist  interrupted,  fiercely.  "  Let 
me  hear  what  Domiloff  has  to  say.  After  that !  " 

"  The  rest  is  simplicity  itself,"  Domiloff  said,  coolly. 
"  A  meeting  of  the  House  of  Laws  shall  be  called,  and 
the  Turkish  army  shall  be  withdrawn  across  the  frontier. 
Sentence  of  banishment  shall  be  passed  upon  Ughtred 
of  Tyrnaus,  and  you,  Nicholas  of  Reist,  shall  be  pro- 
claimed King.  Then  there  shall  be  peace  in  Theos — 
peace,  and  I  hope,  prosperity.  We  have  gone  over  all 
this  before,  Reist.  You  must  trust  us.  Our  alliance  is 
useless  if  every  few  minutes  you  lose  faith." 

"A  passive  treason  was  all  that  I  promised,"  Reist 
said.  "  I  undertook  to  break  with  the  King,  to  give  up 
my  command  in  the  army,  and  remain  here.  Nothing 
more  !  Surely  that  is  enough  for  my  share  !  " 

"Under  ordinary  circumstances  it  would  have  been 
3°7 


3o8  THE  TRAITORS 

enough,"  Hassen  said,  "  but  in  one  or  two  instances  the 
unexpected  has  intervened.  This  Englishman,  whom 
you  all  seemed  to  have  welcomed  amongst  you,  has  been 
indeed  a  firebrand.  His  letters  have  been  read  every- 
where. In  England  they  have  done  terrible  mischief. 
In  Germany,  too,  they  have  made  trouble.  We  have 
therefore  to  end  this  matter  swiftly — with  one  coup. 
We  cannot  now  wait  for  the  inevitable  end.  From 
your  point  of  view,  Duke,  surely  this  is  better  so.  The 
prosecution  of  this  war  would  simply  mean  a  devastated 
and  depopulated  Theos.  Unless  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus 
surrendered  quickly  the  bloodshed  would  be  terrible,  the 
end  of  course  certain.  Surely  what  we  propose  is  the 
better  way.  You,  Duke  of  Reist,  who  are  a  Thetian 
and  a  patriot,  must " 

"  Stop  ! ' 

A  sudden  fire  burst  in  Reist's  dark  eyes,  the  deep 
colour  rushed  into  his  cheeks.  There  was  a  breathless 
silence  in  the  little  room. 

"  Not  that  word,"  he  said,  slowly.  "  For  God's  sake 
not  that  word.  I  do  not  know  what  I  am,  or  what  men 
will  call  me  when  these  terrible  days  have  passed  away. 
But  the  patriots  are  those  who  wait  with  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  to  give  their  lives  for  their  country,  those  whose 
swords  are  unsheathed,  and  whose  heart  is  stout  for 
battle.  I,  who  spend  my  gloomy  days  here,  striving  to 
keep  the  sound  of  those  guns  from  my  ears,  skulking  in 
the  shadows,  afraid  even  to  show  my  face  at  the  win- 
dow— I  am  no  patriot." 

"The  Duke  of  Reist  does  himself  an  injustice," 
Domiloff  said,  softly.  "  It  is  physical  courage  which 


- 


THE  TRAITORS  309 

fills  a  man's  heart  with  the  desire  to  fight — a  greater 
thing  than  this  is  the  moral  courage  which  keeps  a  brave 
man  inactive  when  he  knows  in  his  heart  that  inaction 
is  best  for  his  country." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  subtle  reasoner,  Domiloff,"  Reist 
said,  bitterly.  "I  cannot  argue  with  you.  Only  I 
know  that  all  Theos  is  standing  sword  in  hand  before 
our  ancient  enemies,  and  I  am  here.  The  weariness  of 
it  is  intolerable." 

"It  is  the  nerves,  my  friend,"  Domiloff  answered, 
cheerfully.  "  You  need  a  good  gallop,  a  little  of  this 
stinging  air.  Well,  what  we  need  of  you  is  action,  is  it 
not  ? — and  there  is  danger  too." 

"  It  goes  beyond  our  bargain,"  Reist  answered,  in  an 
agitated  tone.  "  Once  I  never  dreamed  that  you, 
Hassen,  would  pass  the  threshold  of  my  door  and  leave 
it  alive.  As  for  such  a  thing  as  you  ask — oh,  I  am  not 
Judas  enough  for  that." 

"  Nicholas,"  his  sister  said,  quickly,  "  can  you  not  see 
that  it  is  a  great  deed.  Think  how  many  lives  you  will 
save.  In  years  to  come  every  woman  of  Theos  who 
sees  her  husband  by  her  side  will  remember  that  you 
were  his  preserver.  Besides,  it  is  too  late  now  for  hesi- 
tation. We  have  chosen  our  side,  and  we  must  work 
for  our  cause." 

Domiloff  nodded. 

"  The  Countess  is  right/'  he  said.  "  Do  as  we  ask, 
Nicholas  of  Reist,  and  in  a  fortnight's  time  there  will  be 
no  war  or  sign  of  war,  and  the  people  shall  know  to 
whom  they  owe  their  deliverance." 

Reist  smiled  bitterly. 


3io  THE  TRAITORS 

"  My  people,"  he  said,  "  will  never  overwhelm  me 
with  gratitude.  You  do  not  know  them  as  I  do.  A 
true  Thetian  would  love  best  the  man  who  led  them  into 
the  jaws  of  death  to  fight  for  his  liberty,  even  though 
the  fight  were  in  vain,  than  the  man  who  made  all 
things  smooth  and  happy  for  him  by  skulking  within  four 
walls  and  intriguing  with  such  men  as  you,  Domiloff." 

Hassen  turned  impatiently  away.    ^-""^ 

"  My  friend,"  he  said  to  Domiloff,  "  we  waste  our 
time  here.  Theos  must  take  its  chance.  I  am  not 
disposed  to  wait  any  longer  for  the  Duke  of  Reist's 
answer." 

"  Then  you  shall  have  it  now,"  Reist  said,  facing  them 
with  a  momentary  reassertion  of  his  old  self.  "  I  accept. 
In  an  hour  I  will  ride  out  to  Solika.  But  I  shall  do  this 
thing  my  own  way.  Tell  me  only  how  I  can  communi- 
cate with  you  at  Althea." 

"  It  is  easy,"  Hassen  exclaimed.     "  I  will  explain." 

He  drew  Reist  on  one  side.  The  Countess  and 
Domiloff  exchanged  quick  glances.  Then  there  came 
suddenly  from  below  the  sound  of  a  measured  tramping 
of  feet  in  the  square,  halting  before  the  great  mail- 
studded  door.  Marie  moved  swiftly  to  the  window. 

"  It  is  Ruttens,"  she  announced,  hurriedly,  "  the  tem- 
porary commander  of  police.  He  has  forty  or  fifty  men 
with  him,  and  they  have  formed  a  cordon  around  the 
door." 

Hassen's  hand  flew  to  his  sword.  He  looked  towards 
Domiloff. 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Have  we 
been  betrayed,  Domiloff  ?  " 


,- 


THE  TRAITORS  311 

"  It  is  not  you  they  seek,"  he  said.  "  Reist,  find  out 
what  they  want." 

There  was  the  sound  of  heavy  footsteps  upon  the 
stairs.  Marie  sprang  towards  the  door,  but  she  was  too 
late.  A  servant  had  already  thrown  it  open. 

"  Colonel  Ruttens,"  he  announced. 

DomilofF,  already  stealing  to  the  furthermost  corner 
of  the  room,  which  was  a  large  one,  extinguished  the 
solitary  lamp  and  plunged  the  whole  place  into  compara- 
tive darkness.  Ruttens  paused  a  few  yards  from  the 
threshold  and  peered  around  him. 

"  Is  the  Duke  of  Reist  here  ?  "  he  asked. 

Nicholas  struck  a  match  and  lit  a  solitary  candle. 
Its  feeble  flame  did  little  more  than  reveal  his  own  pale  face. 

"  Here  I  am,  Colonel  Ruttens.  What  do  you  want 
with  me  ?  " 

Colonel  Ruttens  saluted. 

"  With  you — nothing,  Duke,"  he  answered.  "  Noth- 
ing, save  your  help,  that  is,  in  arresting  a  miscreant." 

"  Who  is  he  ?  "  Reist  asked. 

"  The  Baron  DomilofF." 

"  He  is  a  Russian  subject,"  Reist  said,  slowly. 

"  I  have  a  warrant  for  his  arrest  signed  by  the  King," 
Ruttens  answered.  "  Russian  or  no  Russian  he  has 
been  guilty  of  inciting  to  treason,  of  conspiring  to  bring 
a  regiment  of  Cossacks  into  the  city,  and  of  using  fire- 
arms in  the  street.  Apart  from  which  his  very  presence 
in  the  city  is  an  offence,  as  he  was  banished  by  the  King 
some  time  ago." 

"  And  why  do  you  come  to  me  ?  "  Reist  asked. 

"  Because  Baron  DomilofF  is  at  present  in  this  house," 


312  THE  TRAITORS 

Ruttens  answered.  "  My  men  have  surrounded  it,  and 
I  have  come  first  to  you,  Duke.  I  call  upon  you,  as  a 
loyal  Thetian,  to  aid  me  in  making  this  arrest." 

"  What  right  have  you  to  assume  that  I  should  give 
shelter  to  Baron  Domiloff?  "  Reist  asked,  quietly. 

"  I  regret  to  say  that  he  is  known  to  be  in  this  house," 
Ruttens  answered.  "  Further,  the  fact  that  you,  Duke, 
were  also  known  to  be  here  when  every  loyal  Thetian  is 
under  arms,  compelled  me  to  assume  that  your  attitude 
towards  this  Russian  spy  was  not  inimical." 

Reist  started  as  though  struck.  Immediately  after- 
wards Ruttens'  attention  was  attracted  by  the  sound  of 
stealthy  footsteps  in  the  further  corner  of  the  apartment. 
He  half  drew  his  sword  and  peered  forward. 

"  Who  is  that  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Duke  of  Reist,  I  have 
spared  you  the  indignity  of  filling  your  house  with 
police,  but  I  must  call  upon  you  at  once  to  hand  over 
my  prisoner.  If  not  I  shall  summon  my  men.  I  have 
only  to " 

He  was  powerless  to  utter  another  syllable.  A  strong 
pair  of  arms  were  around  his  neck,  and  a  handkerchief 
thrust  into  his  mouth.  He  only  looked  towards  Reist, 
but  the  look  was  such  that  Reist  felt  the  shameful 
colour  flood  his  cheeks. 

Hassen's  dagger  gleamed  blue  in  the  twilight,  but 
Reist  held  out  his  hand. 

"  Listen,"  he  said,  "  bind  and  gag  him,  and  then  es- 
cape by  the  western  entrance.  But  no  violence.  He  is 
an  old  man." 

Hassen  shrugged  his  shoulders,  but  Domiloff  hastened 
to  assent. 


.- 


THE  TRAITORS  313 

"  There  is  no  need  to  hurt  him,"  he  said.  "  Keep 
him  here  quietly  for  a  while.  I  will  order  my  men  into 
the  hall  in  case  that  motley  crew  below  try  to  force  an  en- 
trance. Countess,  will  you  be  showing  our  friend  the  way 
to  the  western  exit  ?  Reist,  you  must  watch  this  man." 

They  hurried  away.  Reist  stood  quite  still  for  a 
moment.  His  heart  was  thumping  against  his  side.  He 
bent  over  Ruttens  and  lifted  the  gag  from  his  mouth. 

"  What  was  the  signal  to  your  men  that  they  should 
follow  you  ?  "  he  whispered. 

Ruttens  caught  his  breath  for  a  moment. 

"A — broken  window." 

Reist  seized  a  paper-weight  from  his  table  and  dashed 
it  through  the  nearest  pane.  The  glass  fell  with  a  crash 
into  the  street  below.  There  was  an  answering  shout 
and  a  rush  of  feet.  Domiloff  rushed  breathless  in. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  A  stone  thrown  from  the  street  below,"  he  an- 
swered. "  Quick,  Domiloff,  and  escape.  They  are 
streaming  in  below.  Why,  they  are  fighting  already." 

Domiloff  was  pale  with  fear,  but  he  forced  a  smile. 

"  I  have  friends  in  the  city,"  he  said.  "  They  will 
not  see  me  taken.  Farewell,  Reist !  Remember !  " 

He  hastened  from  the  room.  Reist  stooped  down 
and  cut  the  cords  which  held  Ruttens. 

"  Listen,  Ruttens,"  he  said.  "  I  have  plans  of  my 
own  for  saving  Theos,  and  unfortunately  Domiloff  has 
been  concerned  in  them.  But  that  is  over.  You  know 
the  western  entrance  ?  He  leaves  by  that.  Quick  !  " 

Ruttens  staggered  from  the  room.  Already  the  sound 
of  firearms  rang  out  from  the  hall  below,  ff 


CHAPTER  XLVI 

"  THIS  is  life,"  Brand  said,  blithely,  as  he  leaped  from 
his  steaming  horse. 

"  And  death,"  Ughtred  answered,  gravely.  "  God 
grant  that  Theos  may  not  know  many  days  such  as 
this." 

Brand  fixed  his  field-glasses  and  swept  the  scene 
below. 

"  Enemy  advancing  crescent  shape  in  loose  forma- 
tion," he  remarked.  "  Your  men  capitally  entrenched. 
Masked  guns,  too,  and  cavalry  in  reserve.  Your  Maj- 
esty, how  long  have  they  been  shelling  the  trenches  ?  " 

"  All  day,"  Ughtred  answered,  with  a  faint  smile. 
"  Our  losses  are  less  than  fifty  wounded.  This  is  their 
second  advance.  The  first  cost  them  a  thousand 
men." 

An  A.  D.  C.  galloped  up  the  hill  with  a  report. 
Ughtred  gave  a  few  rapid  orders  and  retired  for  a  few 
minutes  to  consult  with  his  officers.  Below,  the  din  of 
battle  grew  louder.  Through  the  films  of  smoke  multi- 
tudes of  grey  uniformed  men  could  be  seen  creeping 
across  the  plain  like  ants,  now  hesitating  and  dropping, 
now  running  on  from  shelter  to  shelter.  To  Brand 
they  seemed  as  numberless  as  the  pebbles  on  the  sea- 
shore. His  face  grew  grave  as  he  saw  how  near  they 
were  to  the  long  zigzag  line  of  entrenchments.  The 
Thetian  firing,  too,  had  certainly  slackened.  A  hor- 


THE  TRAITORS  315 

rible  idea  flashed  into  his  brain.  If  the  weakening  fire 
were  due  to  lack  of  ammunition  Theos  was  doomed. 

He  looked  around.  Ughtred  and  his  staff  were 
specks  in  the  distance.  They  were  hastening  down  to 
be  nearer  the  scene  of  action.  Brand  caught  his  horse, 
and  galloped  after  them.  The  battle  fever  seemed  to  be 
in  the  atmosphere.  The  afternoon  heat  was  rendered 
more  oppressive  by  a  murky  vapour  rising  from  the 
valley.  Below,  it  was  difficult  to  see  anything  save  the 
swarm  of  Turks  creeping  steadily  on  across  the  plain. 
Above  their  heads  screamed  the  shells  which  were  to 
pave  the  way  for  their  advance.  Brand  hastened  on, 
filled  with  misgivings. 

At  last  he  reached  a  spur  of  the  hill  from  which  an 
easy  descent  led  down  into  the  valley.  From  here  he 
could  see  into  the  trenches,  and  his  spirits  revived. 
They  were  swarming  with  men,  there  were  no  signs  of 
any  panic.  The  King  and  his  staff  had  halted  almost 
within  shouting  distance,  and  protected  from  the  enemy's 
fire  only  by  a  little  clump  of  trees.  Then  Brand  knew 
that  there  was  method  in  this  silence. 

A  long,  clarion-like  bugle-call,  and  then — a  sudden 
upheaval  of  all  the  forces  of  destruction.  From  the 
heights  above  the  pom-poms  and  Maxims  sent  down  a 
murderous  rain,  the  trenches  from  end  to  end  belched 
forth  red  fire.  Brand  held  his  breath,  it  was  an  epoch — 
for  a  looker-on  a  marvellous  experience — a  page  in  the 
chapter  of  his  life.  The  firing-line  of  the  Turks  was 
within  four  hundred  yards  of  the  trenches,  and  in  thirty 
seconds  they  were  wiped  out  of  existence.  The  next 
line  and  the  next  shared  the  same  fate.  The  Turkish 


3i6  THE  TRAITORS 

officers  galloped  to  the  front  with  drawn  sabres,  the 
Mohammedan  battle-cry,  solemn  and  inspiring,  rang 
fiercely  out.  It  was  useless.  No  living  thing  could 
face  that  zone  of  destruction.  A  dust  rose  from  the 
bullet-riven  ground.  It  was  like  a  hail-storm  upon  an 
ocean.  The  Turks  wavered  and  broke,  and  the  Thetian 
cavalry  rode  them  through  and  through,  passing  out  of 
their  broken  ranks  with  blood-stained  sabres  and  hearts 
aflame. 

Ughtred,  watching,  saw  the  first  signs  of  danger,  and 
signalled  for  their  withdrawal.  But  the  lust  of  blood 
was  awake  in  them,  and  they  were  drunk  with  the  joy 
of  fighting.  They  followed  and  followed  till  the  Turks, 
out  of  that  awful  avalanche  of  death,  became  conscious 
that  a  thousand  Thetian  horsemen  were  not  an  in- 
vincible force.  Their  fight  was  checked,  they  were  al- 
most immediately  surrounded,  their  leader  fell  shot 
through  the  heart,  and  a  miracle  was  required  to  save  the 
flower  of  the  Thetian  army. 

A  miracle  which  happened.  For  of  a  sudden  a  horse- 
man, who  had  ridden  in  the  ranks,  his  face  shaded  by  a 
helmet,  leaped  to  the  front. 

"A  Reist!  A  Reist ! "  he  cried,  "for  God  and 
Theos,"  and  once  more  the  fear  of  numbers  passed 
away.  They  fought  like  heroes,  and  in  the  melee 
without  serious  loss.  They  fought  their  way  almost 
to  the  open,  and  their  path  was  an  avenue  of  blood. 
But  how  it  might  have  gone  with  them  no  man  could 
tell,  for  at  the  critical  moment  the  whole  cavalry  reserve, 
with  Ughtred  himself  at  their  head,  fell  upon  the 
enemy's  right  flank,  and  the  triumph  of  the  day  was  as- 


,- 


THE  TRAITORS  317 

sured.  The  Turks  fled,  and  no  further  pursuit  was  at- 
tempted. 

The  man  who  had  led  that  wonderful  rally  rode 
slowly  back  to  his  place  in  the  ranks.  But  Ughtred, 
from  whose  left  temple  the  blood  was  streaming,  and 
whose  arm  was  helpless,  put  his  horse  to  the  gallop  and 
intercepted  him. 

"  It  was  well  done,  Duke  of  Reist,"  he  said.  "  Will 
you  shake  hands  with  me  ?  " 

For  a  moment  Reist  hesitated,  and  in  that  moment 
the  King,  stung  by  his  indecision,  withdrew  his  appeal. 

"  I  will  not  have  a  grudging  reconciliation,"  he  said. 
"  As  we  are,  so  we  will  remain  until  your  apology  is 
ready.  But  I  am  glad  at  least  to  see  that  you  are  still  a 
patriot.  I  cannot  have  you  fighting  in  the  ranks,  Duke 
of  Reist.  What  post  will  you  have  ?  " 

Reist  stood  very  still  for  a  moment,  and  the  pallor  on 
his  cheeks  was  more  than  the  pallor  of  exhaustion. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "there  is  a  report  that 
General  Kolashin  is  wounded.  Send  me  to  Althea." 

The  King  turned  his  horse. 

"  As  you  will,"  he  answered.  "  Captain  Hartzan, 
ride  with  the  Duke  of  Reist  to  Althea,  and  take  this 
ring  to  General  Kolashin,  whose  command  the  Duke  of 
Reist  will  take  over." 

Then  the  King,  flushed  with  fighting,  the  blood  in- 
deed still  upon  his  face  from  a  wound  on  the  temple, 
rode  slowly  down  the  lines  of  his  army.  From  far  and 
near  the  men  of  Theos  greeted  him  lustily.  This  was 
indeed  a  born  leader,  whose  dispositions  had  prevailed 
against  the  wily  Turkish  generals,  and  whose  personal 


3i8  THE  TRAITORS 

valour  they  had,  with  their  own  eyes,  beheld.  Even 
from  Solika,  far  in  the  background,  came  an  answering 
echo  to  that  strange  thunder  of  men's  rapturous  voices. 

Brand  touched  him  on  the  arm. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "you  have  won  a  victory 
to-day  which  will  amaze  all  Europe.  Be  careful  that 
you  do  not  lose  what  you  have  gained  by  treachery  !  " 

The  King  looked  into  Brand's  grave  face,  and  beck- 
oned him  on  one  side. 

"  Well  ?  " 

"  Domiloff  has  got  hold  of  Reist,"  he  said.  "  He  is  a 
traitor.  There  is  something  going  on  in  the  city  even 
now,  which  I  do  not  understand." 

The  King  shook  his  head  gravely. 

"  Reist  is  my  personal  enemy,"  he  said.  "  but  Theos 

j.T.Tm»in-~,^.   i-   LJT    .^-.•-M-Jt »ITM«UUT  v  s  -  -  r_-  -  -TJ *•-* .        ...  * ,..•—«.- 

has  no  more  faithful  son.  It  is  he  who  has  just  saved 
our  victory  from  being  turned  into  disaster." 

"  Nevertheless,"  Brand  answered,  "  he  is  Domiloff's 
man,  and  there  is  treachery  afoot.  I  will  tell  you  what 
happened  to  me  in  the  city." 

The  King  listened  with  darkening  face.  But  when 
Brand  had  finished  his  story  he  shook  his  head  again. 

"  Domiloff  is  my  enemy,"  he  said,  "  and  it  may  be 
the  Countess  of  Reist.  But  of.  Reist  himself  I  will  be- 
lieve no  such  thing." 

"Your  Majesty  will  regret  it,"  Brand  remarked, 
dryly. 

"  If  you  are  right,  I  certainly  shall,"  the  King  an- 
swered, "  for  I  have  appointed  Reist  to  the  command 
at  Althea." 

Brand  wheeled  his  horse  round. 


- 


THE  TRAITORS  319 

"I  wish  you  good  fortune — and  good-bye,"  he  said. 

The  King  looked  at  him  in  amazement. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Brand  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Home." 

"  Home  !     Why  ?  " 

"  The  war  is  over,"  Brand  answered.  "  The  Turks 
will  occupy  Theos  to-morrow." 

"You  are  talking  nonsense,"  Ughtred  declared,  hotly. 

Brand  shook  his  head. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "you  will  admit  that  a 
traitor  at  Althea  can  let  the  Turks  into  Theos." 

The  King  frowned. 

"  It  is  true,"  he  admitted,  "  but^Reist  is  no  traitor." 

"  If  you  will  come  with  me  to  the  city,"  Brand  an- 
swered, "  I  will  prove  to  you  that  he  is  ! " 


CHAPTER  XLVII 

u  BARON  DOMILOFF  !  It  is  I,  Marie  of  Reist.  Let 
me  in." 

She  stepped  into  the  darkened  room,  and  closed  the 
door  behind  her.  Domiloff,  who  was  looking  white 
and  scared,  turned  the  key  in  the  lock  and  faced  her 
nervously. 

"  Why  have  you  come  here,  Countess  ? "  he  ex- 
claimed. "  Do  you  not  understand  that  I  am  in  hiding? 
It  is  not  a  fit  place  for  you — and  you  may  have  been 
followed." 

She  held  her  handkerchief  to  her  face  and  looked 
around  her  in  disgust. 

"  You  are  right,"  she  answered.  "  It  is  not  a  fit 
place  for  any  one.  It  is  abominable.  What  are  you 
doing  here  ? " 

"The  King  and  this  Englishman  Brand  are  in  the 
city  together,  and  they  have  scent  of  how  things  are 
going,"  he  answered.  "  My  house  in  the  avenue  was 
surrounded  by  soldiers  this  morning,  but  I  managed  to 
give  them  the  slip  and  reach  here  safely.  Have  you 
brought  me  word  from  Nicholas  ? " 

She  shook  her  head. 

u  NO  | » 

"  Then  why  are  you  here  ?  This  place  is  of  evil 
repute.  Besides,  it  is  not  safe.  You  may  have  been 
followed." 

320 


THE  TRAITORS  321 

"  I  believe  that  I  was,"  she  answered.  "  It  is  not  of 
any  consequence.  There  is  not  any  one  in  Theos  who 
would  harm  a  Reist." 

His  face  was  unnaturally  white.  She  looked  at  him 
in  wonder.  Was  the  man  a  coward  ? 

"  But  it  was  madness !  "  he  exclaimed,  angrily. 
"  There  are  spies  everywhere.  Your  brother  and  I  were 
overheard  talking  together  at  this  very  place.  I  may  be 
arrested  at  any  moment." 

She  glanced  at  him  contemptuously. 

"  I  suppose  that  when  one  conspires,"  she  said, 
"  there  is  always  danger.  Baron  Domiloff,  I  have  fol- 
lowed you  here  because  since  noon  yesterday  there  have 
been  two  attempts  upon  the  life  of  the  Englishman, 
Walter  Brand." 

"  Both  bungled,"  he  remarked.  "  One  is  ill  served, 
so  far  from  home." 

She  turned  upon  him  fiercely. 

"  Have  you  forgotten  what  I  told  you  only  a  few  days 
ago  ?  " 

"  One  does  not  remember  too  long,"  he  answered, 
lightly,  "  the  words  of  an  angry  woman." 

Her  eyes  flashed  upon  him  wrathfully.  The  odour  of 
the  violets  at  her  bosom  seemed  to  fill  the  dark,  stuffy 
room.  He  remarked  suddenly  how  beautiful  she  was. 

"  If  you  do  not  know  when  a  woman  is  in  earnest," 
she  declared,  "  you  are  a  fool.  I  have  come  to  tell  you 
this.  That  the  moment  evil  happens  to  him  I  go  at 
once  to  the  King.  I  tell  him  everything.  Mind,  this 
is  no  idle  threat.  I  swear  to  you  that  I  will  do  this." 

A   cloud   of  evil   passions   swept  up   from  the  man's 


322 


THE  TRAITORS 


heart.  He  drew  a  little  closer  to  her  and  took  up  his 
stand  nearer  the  door. 

"It  is  folly,"  he  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "the  man  is 
working  up  all  Europe  with  his  accursed  letters.  He 
must  be  removed." 

"  If  evil  comes  to  him,"  she  said,  steadily,  "  the  King 
shall  know  all." 

He  drew  a  little  closer  to  her.  An  ugly  smile  curved 
his  lips. 

"  It  cannot  be,  Countess,  that  your  interest  in  this 
fellow  is  personal.  He  is  not  of  your  order.  You 
would  not  be  so  cruel  as  to  bestow  upon  him  a  con- 
sideration which  you  deny  to  your  equals  !  " 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  she  said,  calmly,  "  that  you  are 
trying  to  be  impertinent.  The  nature  of  my  interest  in 
Mr.  Brand  can  be  no  concern  of  yours.  It  is  sufficient 
that  what  I  have  said  I  mean  ! " 

"  I  do  not  find  it  sufficient,"  he  answered,  quietly. 

She  turned  upon  him  haughtily.  Her  delicate  eye- 
brows were  drawn  together.  Her  eyes  were  aglow  with 
anger.  DomilofF  watched  her  stealthily.  Why  had  he 
never  realized  how  handsome  she  was  ?  He  drew  a  little 
nearer  to  her. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  she  demanded.  "  In- 
solent !  " 

"  Countess,"  he  answered,  "  it  is  very  strange  to  me 
that  you  should  so  long  have  been  ignorant  of  the  truth. 
Do  you  think  that  it  is  for  the  sake  of  Theos  I  have 
planned  for  the  overthrow  of  Ughtred  of  Tyrnaus  ?  Do 
you  think  that  it  is  for  your  brother's  sake  that  I  have 
smoothed  his  way  to  the  throne  ?  No  !  My  reward 


THE  TRAITORS  323 

has  always  been  clear  before  me.  I  have  looked  for  it 
always  at  your  hands." 

"  At  my  hands  ?  " 

He  winced  before  the  amazed  scorn  of  her  words. 
Yet  he  continued  steadily. 

"  If  you  are  surprised,  Countess,"  he  said,  "  well,  I 
have  been  the  victim  of  that  time-worn  fallacy  which 
ascribes  to  any  woman  at  any  time  the  knowledge  of 
being  loved.  You.  have  always  been  the  object  of  my 
respectful  admiration.  You  are  now " 

She  threw  out  her  hands — a  silencing  gesture. 

"  Enough  !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  do  not  know  what 
you  are  going  to  say.  I  do  not  wish  to  hear  it." 

"  You  must !  "  he  declared.     "  You  shall  hear  me  !  " 

She  turned  her  back  upon  him,  but  he  was  between 
her  and  the  door.  He  turned  the  key  in  the  lock,  and 
faced  her — a  new  DomilofF,  wolf-like,  with  evil  things 
in  his  white  face  and  black  eyes. 

"  You  shall  promise  to  be  my  wife,"  he  said, "  or " 

"  Or  what  ? " 

She  did  not  quail.  His  eyes  fell  before  hers.  But 
the  key  slipped  into  his  pocket. 

"  Or  you  do  not  leave  this  house,"  he  answered.  "  I 
am  master  here.  The  whole  quarter  is  Russian.  Be 
reasonable,  Countess.  The  alliance  is  worthy  of  your 
consideration." 

She  leaned  suddenly  forward,  and  struck  him  across 
the  cheek. 

"You  cur,"  she  cried.  "  I  would  as  soon  marry  one 
of  my  servants." 

She   beat   upon   the  door  and  called  out.     DomilofF 


324  THE  TRAITORS 

drew  out  his  handkerchief  and  held  it  to  his  cheek.  He 
made  no  effort  to  silence  her.  There  was  a  dull  red 
mark  across  his  face.  If  she  could  have  seen  his  ex- 
pression she  would  have  been  frightened. 

There  came  no  answer  to  her  calling.  She  rushed 
across  to  the  window.  There  were  men  on  the  place 
below,  but  they  only  answered  her  frantic  gestures  with 
dull  indifference — at  most  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders 
and  a  smile.  They  were  Russian  Jews.  It  was  as 
Domiloff  had  said.  They  were  his  creatures.  It  was 
the  one  evil  spot  in  Theos.  Domiloff  stood  with  his 
back  to  her,  still  with  his  handkerchief  to  his  face. 

She  turned  upon  him  fiercely. 

"  If  you  do  not  let  me  out,"  she  cried,  "  Nicholas 
shall  shoot  you  like  a  dog." 

"  It  may  be,"  he  answered,  coolly,  "  that  I  shall  shoot 
Nicholas.  At  least  there  will  be  something  to  be  wiped 
out  between  us.  I  shall  not  fear  his  vengeance." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  she  asked,  suddenly  cold  with 
the  first  sensations  of  fear.  The  man's  quietness  was 
ominous,  and  she  could  see  his  face  now.  He  put  his 
handkerchief  away  and  came  over  to  her,  catching  her 
wrists  with  a  sudden  catlike  movement. 

"  It  is  your  own  fault,"  he  said.  "  You  will  remem- 
ber that  blow  to  your  dying  day." 

****** 

They  stood  side  by  side  at  the  window  of  one  of  the 
great  reception  rooms  of  the  palace,  the  King  and  Brand. 
A  driving  storm  of  rain  was  beating  against  the  glass, 
and  the  thunder  rattled  amongst  the  distant  hills  from 
peak  to  peak.  Ughtred  was  looking  more  pale  and 


- 


THE  TRAITORS  325 

harassed  than  when  he  had  ridden,  sword  in  hand,  in 
front  of  his  tiny  army  and  watched  the  Turks  closing  in 
around  them. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  it,  Brand  ?  "  he  asked,  sadly. 
"  There  is  something  astir  which  I  cannot  understand. 
See  how  the  people  throng  the  Square  in  front  of  the 
Reist  house,  and  scarcely  even  glance  this  way.  What 
are  they  waiting  for  ?  " 

Brand  shook  his  head. 

"The  true  meaning  of  it  I  do  not  know,"  he  an- 
swered, "  but  there  is  treason  abroad.  I  am  sure  of  that, 
and  I  am  sure  that  Nicholas  of  Reist  is  concerned 
in  it." 

The  King  bit  his  lip.  If  Nicholas  of  Reist  were  a 
traitor,  what  hope  was  there  for  Theos  ? 

"  I  do  not  know  these  people,"  he  said.  "  My  men 
are  all  in  the  field,  or  under  arms  at  the  barracks. 
These  are  not  native  Thetians." 

"  They  look  to  me,"  Brand  said,  dryly,  "  like  a  horde 
of  Russian  Jews  from  across  the  frontier." 

"  I  am  going  to  ride  once  more  through  the  city,"  the 
King  said.  "  Come  with  me,  Brand." 

They  left  the  palace  by  a  side  door,  and  passed  cau- 
tiously along  the  street,  the  King  with  his  military  cloak 
wrapped  closely  about  him.  All  around  was  a  constant 
muttering.  The  people  talked  together  excitedly  enough, 
but  without  elation.  There  were  no  signs  that  this  was 
a  day  of  victory.  The  King's  face  grew  stern. 

"I  do  not  know  this  rabble,"  he  said.     "They  are 
not  my  own  people." 
-"They  are  the  tools  of  Domiloff,"  Brand  answered. 


326  THE  TRAITORS 

"  It  is  he  who  is  at  the  root  of  all  this  trouble.  It  is  he 
who  has  corrupted  Nicholas  of  Reist." 

They  rode  across  the  Square,  and  the  people  scattered 
before  them  with  muttered  imprecations.  Brand  sud- 
denly turned  into  a  side  street  and  motioned  the  King 
to  follow  him. 

"Our  police,"  he  said,  "have  failed  to  catch  Domi- 
loff.  Let  us  try  ourselves.  I  believe  I  know  where  he 
may  be  found." 

The  King's  face  lightened,  and  he  touched  his  horse 
with  the  spur.  But  Brand  hesitated. 

"  The  place  is  in  a  bad  quarter,"  he  said.  "  There 
will  be  risk." 

But  Ughtred  laughed. 

"  With  a  guard,"  he  said,  "  we  should  have  no  chance. 
You  and  I  alone  will  take  Domiloff." 


CHAPTER  XLVIII 

THE  storm  had  driven  away  the  crowd  of  loiterers 
from  in  front  of  the  Cafe  Metropolitan.  The  King  and 
Brand  stood  under  one  of  the  small  lime  trees  which 
bordered  the  road,  watching  the  place.  The  lower 
room,  unshuttered,  and  lit  with  several  flaring  gas  jets, 
was  filled  with  a  crowd  of  men  drinking  and  singing 
songs.  From  the  upper  windows  came  no  sign  of  life. 

"That  is  where  I  believe  that  DomilofF  is  hiding," 
Brand  declared.  "  Do  you  see  what  a  rabble  that  is 
inside  the  cafe  ?  " 

The  King  nodded. 

"  Russian  Jews,  every  one  of  them,"  he  said.  "  Any- 
how, there  are  too  many  of  them  for  us  to  enter  the 
place  single-handed. 

"  Brand,  take  one  of  the  horses,  and  ride  to  the 
barracks.  Bring  down  a  guard  of  twenty-five  men.  I 
will  wait  here." 

Brand  nodded,  and  hurried  away  to  the  corner  of  the 
street,  where  they  had  left  the  horses.  The  King  lit 
a  cigar,  shielding  the  light  as  much  as  possible  with  his 
hand,  and  leaned  against  the  trunk  of  the  tree. 

Five  minutes  passed,  ten,  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  The 
King,  whose  thoughts  were  none  of  the  pleasantest, 
grew  impatient.  Suddenly,  the  cigar  dropped  from  his 
fingers.  He  sprang  forward  with  beating  heart,  be- 
wildered, incredulous.  For  he  had  seen  a  strange  thing. 

327 


328  THE  TRAITORS 

Up  at  that  dark,  unlit  window  had  flashed  for  a  moment 
the  pale,  terror-stricken  face  of  a  woman,  drawn  back 
almost  at  once  by  an  unseen  hand.  The  echoes  of  her 
passionate  cry  for  help  rang  still  in  his  ears.  And, 
strangest  thing  of  all,  the  face  was  the  face  of  Marie  of 
Reist. 

Ughtred  forgot  then  that  he  was  a  King,  and  that  his 
life  was  a  pledge  to  his  country.  He  remembered  only 
that  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  strength,  and 
that  from  that  dreary  little  room  a  woman  was  calling 
to  him  for  help.  In  the  passage  the  few  loiterers  who 
disputed  his  way  were  brushed  on  one  side  like  flies. 
He  sprang  up  the  little  staircase,  which  creaked  under 
his  weight,  in  half-a-dozen  bounds.  The  girl's  cries 
were  plainly  to  be  heard  now.  He  thundered  upon  the 
door. 

There  came  for  a  moment  no  answer.  The  girl's  cry 
was  stifled,  as  though  by  a  rough  hand. 

<c  Let  me  in,"  Ughtred  cried.     "  At  once." 

There  came  no  answer  save  a  man's  muttered  curse 
and  the  sound  of  footsteps.  Ughtred  was  wearing  his 
military  riding  boots,  and  the  door  was  crazy  and 
old.  A  single  charge,  and  it  went  crashing  into  the 
room.  Ughtred  stumbled,  and  saved  his  life,  for  a 
bullet  whistled  just  over  his  head  as  DomilorF  sprang  to 
the  window. 

Marie,  breathless  and  dishevelled,  recognized  Ughtred 
with  a  cry  of  wonder. 

"  The  King !  "  she  exclaimed,  and  DomilofF,  who 
might  have  escaped,  looked  round  and  hesitated. 
Ughtred,  who  was  as  quick  as  lightning  upon  his  feet, 


- 


THE  TRAITORS  329 

snatched  him  back  from  the  window-sill  and  threw  him 
heavily  upon  the  floor. 

There  was  no  time  for  explanations.  Through  the 
debris  of  the  door  there  sprang  into  the  room  half-a- 
dozen  of  the  loiterers  from  the  room  below.  They 
faced  the  King,  standing  like  a  giant  in  the  centre  of 
the  floor  with  his  long  military  sword  flashing  grey  in 
the  dim  light. 

"  Be  ofF,"  he  cried.  "  This  is  not  your  affair.  I  do 
not  wish  to  hurt  any  of  you,  but  I  will  kill  the  first  man 
who  comes  a  yard  further." 

They  hung  back,  but  one  remained  looking  about 
him  with  crafty,  peering  eyes,  his  long  upper  teeth 
gleaming  like  yellow  fangs.  His  hand  lurked  about  his 
tunic. 

"  Little  master,"  he  said,  "  tell  us  what  has  happened 
here  ?  There  is  a  man  hurt.  What  have  you  done  to 
him  ?  " 

Ughtred's  sword  was  within  an  inch  of  the  man's 
chest. 

"  The  man  is  unhurt  and  my  prisoner,"  Ughtred 
said. 

"  Your  prisoner,  little  master.  My  eyes  are  bad,  and 
the  light  is  dim.  Who  are  you  to  come  here  and  make 
prisoners  r  " 

"  I  am  the  King,"  Ughtred  answered,  rashly. 

There  were  those  who  knew  him.  There  was  a  mur- 
mur which  was  like  a  growl,  and  Ughtred  hesitated  no 
longer,  but  ran  his  sword  through  the  man  whose  knife 
was  already  stealing  from  his  tunic.  He  fell  back  with 
a  shriek  of  horror,  and  the  King  himself  in  grievous 


330  THE  TRAITORS 

danger,  wrenched  his  sword  free.  There  were  half-a- 
dozen  knives  raised,  and  one  must  have  struck  into  his 
chest.  But  Marie,  stooping  down,  had  seized  Domiloff's 
revolver,  and,  leaning  over,  shot  the  man  through  the 
heart.  The  King,  who  had  recovered  his  balance, 
sprang  amongst  them,  and  they  scattered  like  rabbits. 
Then  came  a  great  cry  from  down-stairs. 

"  The  soldiers  !     Quick  !     Save  yourself." 

They  fled  without  waiting  for  a  parting  stroke. 
Ughtred  lowered  his  sword  and  let  them  pass.  There 
were  three  dead  and  wounded  in  the  room,  and  Domi- 
loff  lay  on  his  back  where  the  King  had  thrown  him. 
The  King  turned  to  Marie. 

"You  are  a  brave  woman,"  he  said.  "You  have 
saved  both  our  lives." 

But  she  held  out  both  her  hands  to  him,  and  her  eyes 
were  streaming. 

"  Your  Majesty  has  saved  more  than  my  life,"  she 
faltered,  "  and  I  have  not  deserved  it.  I  have  been  your 
enemy." 

He  took  her  hands  gently. 

"  We  have  fought  together,"  he  said.  "  Henceforth 
we  should  be  comrades." 

Eleven  men  sat  around  a  long  table  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  the  Reist  house.  They  talked  only  in  whispers, 
and  a  general  air  of  uneasiness  was  apparent.  It  was 
rumoured  that  the  King  was  in  the  city,  and  these  men 
felt  themselves  to  be  conspirators.  Domiloffwas  strangely 
absent.  The  Countess  of  Reist  in  her  own  house  had 
omitted  to  offer  them  a  welcome. 


THE  TRAITORS  331 

Their  suspense  was  temporarily  ended,  however. 
The  door  opened,  and  Baron  Doxis  entered,  followed 
by  a  foreigner,  whom  most  of  them  recognized. 
They  rose  to  their  feet.  Baron  Doxis  presented  the 
guest. 

"  My  colleagues,"  he  announced,  "  this  is  Monsieur 
Gourdolis,  the  accredited  envoy  of  the  Czar  to  us.  He 
has  certain  proposals  to  submit  upon  which  we  will  at 
once  debate." 

A  Counsellor  rose  up. 

"  Has  the  Countess  of  Reist  any  message  to  us  from 
her  brother  ? " 

"The  Countess  of  Reist,"  Baron  Doxis  answered, 
"  is  unaccountably  absent." 

"And  Domiloff? "  another  asked.  "It  is  chiefly 
owing  to  his  representations  that  we  are  assembled  here 
to-day.  Is  he  too  absent  ?  " 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  Then  Gourdolis 
spoke. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  my  friend  Domiloff  will  be 
with  us  doubtless  before  this  meeting  is  dissolved.  In 
the  meantime,  I  will,  with  your  permission,  lay  before 
you  the  terms  on  which  my  august  master  the  Czar 
is  willing  to  stay  the  hand  of  Turkey,  by  force  if  neces- 
sary, and  guarantee  your  independence." 

Some  heavy  curtains  at  the  end  of  the  room  were  sud- 
denly thrown  aside.  The  King  stood  there,  and  by  his 
side  Marie  of  Reist. 

"  My  arrival,  it  would  appear,  is  opportune,"  the  King 
said,  grimly.  "  Address  yourself  to  me,  and  proceed, 
Monsieur  Gourdolis."  * 


CHAPTER  XLIX 

ONE  by  one  the  members  of  the  Council  staggered  to 
their  feet.  The  coming  of  the  King  was  like  a  bomb- 
shell thrown  amongst  them.  They  were  met  in  secret 
conclave,  a  proceeding  to  the  last  degree  unconstitutional. 
They  were  receiving,  too,  an  emissary  from  a  foreign 
country  which  amounted  to  high  treason.  Doxis  was 
perhaps  the  first  to  recover  himself. 

"  Your  Majesty's  coming  is  unexpected,"  he  said.  "  I 
trust  that  there  is  no  ill  news  from  the  seat  of  war." 

"  There  is  no  news,  save  good  news,"  the  King  an- 
swered, having  handed  a  chair  to  Marie.  "  Yesterday's 
battle  you  all  know  about.  I  will  tell  you  the  prospects 
later.  Meanwhile,  I  see  that  you  have  a  stranger  here. 
What  has  Monsieur  Gourdolis  to  say  to  us  ?  " 

Gourdolis  rose  slowly  to  his  feet.  He  was  a  man  of 
resource,  a  shrewd  and  ready  diplomatist.  Already  he 
was  scheming  how  to  turn  to  his  own  advantage 
the  King's  unexpected  presence.  He  played  a  bold 
card. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  respectfully,  "  it  was  pain- 
ful to  me  to  put  forward  my  master's  propositions  to  the 
Council  of  the  House  of  Laws  in  your  absence,  it  is  still 
more  painful  to  do  so  in  your  presence.  I  speak,  how- 
ever, to  the  representatives  of  a  nation  whose  liberty  and 
whose  very  existence  is  threatened,  and  I  offer  them — in 
a  word — salvation.  That  is  my  excuse  for  my  presence 
here  to-day." 

332 


THE  TRAITORS  333 

"  What  your  offer  really  amounts  to  is  no  doubt  the 
Russian  yoke  instead  of  the  Turkish,"  Ughtred  remarked, 
bitterly.  "  My  forefathers  have  tasted  more  than  once  of 
Muscovite  generosity." 

Gourdolis  shook  his  head  gravely. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  you  wrong  my  country, 
and  my  master.  Our  demands  are  very  simple,  and  I  lay 
the  terms  of  them  here  upon  the  table.  The  only  con- 
ditions upon  which  I  regret  to  say  that  my  master  is 
immovable  is  the  immediate  abdication  of  your 
Majesty." 

The  King  sat  with  unchanged  face. 

"  In  favour  of  whom  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Nicholas,  Duke  of  Reist !  " 

"  Is  the  Duke  of  Reist  cognizant  of  this,  and  willing  to 
accept  the  throne  ? "  the  King  asked. 

"  He  is,  your  Majesty,"  Baron  Doxis  answered. 

Marie  rose  to  her  feet. 

"  It  is  false,"  she  declared.  "  My  brother  is  a  patriot, 
and  he  has  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King.  I 
pledge  my  word  for  his  that  he  will  keep  that  oath." 

A  murmur  of  blank  amazement  was  followed  by  a 
dead  silence.  Gourdolis  was  speechless.  The  King 
looked  around  him,  sternly. 

"  Have  I  by  chance  stumbled  upon  a  conspiracy  ?  "  he 
asked.  "  What  do  you  say,  Taverner,  and  you,  Val- 
grosse  ?  Did  you  come  here  prepared  to  listen  to  such  a 
proposition  as  this  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  your  Majesty,"  Taverner  answered,  hastily, 
"  I  did  not." 

"  Nor  I !  "  Valgrosse  echoed. 


334  THE  TRAITORS 

"  What  about  you,  Doxis  ?  "  the  King  asked. 

The  old  Baron,  who,  for  many  years  had  been  chair- 
man of  the  House  of  Laws,  rose  slowly  to  his  feet. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  I  will  admit  that  I  alone 
of  those  present  here  had  some  knowledge  of  this  pro- 
posal. I  hope  that  your  Majesty  will  not  look  upon  my 
presence  here  as  disloyal  or  unseemly.  Only  in  my 
heart  is  deep  engraven  the  love  of  my  country  and  her 
people,  and  the  one  dread  of  my  life  has  been  the  coming 
of  the  Turk.  Your  Majesty,  no  one  has  been  a  more 
sincere  admirer  than  myself  of  the  wise  and  careful 
manner  in  which  you  have  ruled  this  country.  Young 
though  you  are,  you  have  more  than  fulfilled  our  most 
sanguine  expectations.  Only  I  fear  that  unaided  we  may 
as  well  hope  to  stem  the  tide  of  the  mighty  Danube  as 
repel  this  Turkish  invasion." 

"  You  have  spoken  like  a  true  man,  Doxis,"  the  King 
said.  "  Yet  I  must  remind  you  that  your  presence  here 
is  akin  to  treason.  What  of  the  oath  of  loyalty  which 
you  swore  to  me  only  a  few  months  ago  ?  " 

"  Your  Majesty,"  Doxis  answered, "  I  have  not  broken 
that  oath.  I  am  here  only  to  listen  to  what  these  pro- 
posals may  be.  That,  I  take  it,  is  the  position  also  of 
my  colleagues." 

A  murmur  of  assent.  Gourdolis  remained  standing, 
his  papers  in  his  hands. 

u  Your  Majesty  will  forgive  me  if  I  assert  that  there 
is  no  treason  involved  in  the  presence  of  any  one  here. 
I  summoned  those  to  meet  me  whom  I  knew  to  be  real 
and  true  patriots — who  would  not  hesitate  at  a  small 
thing  to  secure  their  country's  freedom." 


THE  TRAITORS  335 

.     The  King  faced  him  scornfully. 

"  We  have  heard,  Monsieur  Gourdolis,"  he  said,  "  of 
the  freedom  of  those  countries  whom  your  beneficent 
master  has  taken  under  his  wing.  Councillors,  I  think 
more  highly  of  your  intelligence  than  to  imagine  that 
you  are  to  be  suborned  by  such  clumsy  intriguing  as 
this.  Freedom  is  one  thing,  the  yoke  of  Russia  an- 
other. I  will  tell  you  some  of  the  considerations  which 
Monsieur  Gourdolis  has  presently  to  propose  to  you. 
The  custom-houses  are  to  be  controlled  by  Russia. 
The  appointment  of  all  government  officials  is  to  be 
sanctioned  by  her.  Our  foreign  policy  is  to  be  her 
foreign  policy.  The  army  is  to  be  officered  by  Russians, 
and  Russian  is  to  be  taught  in  the  schools.  These  things 
are  amongst  your  conditions.  Is  it  not  so,  Monsieur 
Gourdolis  ?  " 

Gourdolis  hesitated,  and  his  chance  was  gone. 

"  You  have  employed  spies,"  he  muttered. 

"Not  I!"  the  King  answered.  "Yet  I  know  your 
terms  as  they  were  proposed  to  Nicholas  of  Reist,  and 
it  amazes  me  only  that  you  should  have  expected  men 
in  whose  hands  remain  the  destinies  of  their  country  to 
give  you  even  a  patient  hearing.  My  Councillors,  give 
this  man  the  answer  his  insolent  mission  deserves,  and 
let  him  be  shown  across  the  frontier.  We  will  before 
long  show  Europe  how  we  deal  with  our  enemies.  The 
Turks  are  not  yet  at  the  gates  of  the  city." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  respectful  enthusiasm. 
Gourdolis  smiled  a  very  evil  smile. 

"  Not  yet,"  he  murmured,  "  but  the  end  is  not  far 
off." 


336  THE  TRAITORS 

Baron  Doxis  rose  up. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  announced,  "  our  answer  is 
unanimous.  We  have  been  misled  by  Baron  Domiloff, 
both  as  to  the  nature  of  Monsieur  Gourdolis's  mission 
and  the  attitude  of  the  Duke  of  Reist.  We  reject  his 
terms.  We  decline  once  and  for  all  to  treat  with  him. 
We  trust  to  God  and  to  you  to  keep  the  enemy  from 
our  gates." 

The  King  smiled  upon  them. 

"I  thank  you  all,"  he  said,  "for  your  confidence. 
Let  me  add  that  I  believe  the  day  will  come  when  you 
will  be  heartily  thankful  that  you  gave  this  man  the  an- 
swer he  deserved.  The  importance  of  our  victory 
yesterday  has,  I  find,  been  wilfully  minimized  in  the 
city,  but  I  can  assure  you  that  with  only  a  very  trifling 
loss  we  withstood  an  attack  on  the  part  of  the  whole 
Turkish  forces.  I  have,  however,  better  news  than  that 
for  you.  The  greatest  nation  in  the  .world  _  would,,  seem. 
to  have  espoused  our  cause.  Yesterday  afternoon  the 
English  Ambassador  at  Constantinople  presented  an 
ultimatum  to  the  Sultan,  demanding  the  withdrawal  of 
his  forces  from  the  frontier  of  Theos.  The  Press 
throughout  Europe  have  announced  the  fact  this  morn- 
ing." 

Baron  Doxis  rose  hurriedly  to  his  feet. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  exclaimed,  in  broken  tones, 
"  permit  me,  on  the  part  of  your  Councillors  and  my- 
self, to  express  our  unbounded  confidence  both  in  your 
military  skill  and  in  your  diplomacy.  Theos  has  found 
a  second  Rudolph." 

The  King  smiled  faintly. 


THE  TRAITORS  337 

"  We  are  an  instance,"  he  said,  "  of  an  ancient  na- 
tion who  has  benefited  by  the  great  new  power  of  this 
generation.  My  diplomatic  appeal  to  the  English 
Government  would  have  been  of  no  avail  but  for  the 
wonderful  espousal  of  our  cause  by  the  whole  British 
Press.  That  we  owe  to  one  who  has  been  living 
amongst  us,  and  who  has  three  times  within  the  last  few 
days  narrowly  escaped  assassination  by  the  friends  of 
Baron  Domiloff.  Monsieur  Gourdolis,  you  have  your 
answer." 

Gourdolis  remained  imperturbable.  He  bowed  to 
Baron  Doxis,  and  moved  towards  the  door.  Then  he 
faced  the  King. 

"  Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "  has  a  singularly  dramatic 
knack  of  turning  up  in  unexpected  places  and  at  unex- 
pected times.  May  that  faculty  not  desert  you  during 
the  next  few  days." 

He  closed  the  door  and  departed.  The  King  rose  to 
his  feet. 

"  Baron  Doxis,"  he  said,  "  I  leave  the  charge  of  the 
city  in  your  hands.  I  return  at  once  to  the  front. 
There  is  no  telegraphic  communication  between  the 
headquarters  of  the  Turkish  Commander-in-Chief  and 
Constantinople,  and  in  any  case  it  is  well  to  be  pre- 
pared. Countess  of  Reist,  will  you  favour  me  for  one 
moment  ?  " 

She  led  him  into  her  own  little  room,  and  placed  her 
hands  in  his. 

"  We  are  friends  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  If  your  Majesty  can  really  pardon  me,"  she  an- 
swered, fervently,  "  — for  always." 


338  THE  TRAITORS 

"  And  Brand  ?  "  the  King  asked. 
Her  cheeks  burned  with  a  sudden  rush  of  colour. 
"  You    may   tell    him,"    she    said,    "  after    to-mor- 
row." 


CHAPTER  L 

INTO  the  black  night  across  the  level  plain  which 
stretched  between  Theos  and  the  pass  of  Althea  a 
woman  rode  as  one  rides  a  race  with  death.  Her  serv- 
ants had  been  left  far  away  behind — her  horse's  sides 
were  streaked  with  foam,  once  or  twice  he  had  swerved 
and  almost  unseated  her.  She  plied  him  with  whip  and 
spur,  and  passionate  words.  It  was  for  the  honour  of  a 
great  race,  for  her  own  salvation  that  she  rode.  All  was 
well  as  yet.  The  lights  of  the  camp  were  twinkling 
like  a  band  of  ribbon  across  the  hillside,  and  there  was 
silence  as  deep  as  death  everywhere,  except  when  the 
wind  came  booming  down  the  valley  in  fitful  gusts,  and 
bowed  the  tops  of  the  lonely  and  stunted  trees.  Up- 
wards she  mounted,  and  the  road  grew  rougher.  Her 
horse's  eyes  were  streaked  with  blood,  his  nostrils 
quivered.  Still  she  urged  him  on.  A  little  further  now, 
and  her  goal  was  reached.  So  she  rode  on,  white  to  the 
lips  with  fear — lest  even  now  she  should  be  too  late. 

At  the  outposts  they  stopped  her,  and  the  great  bay 
horse,  after  staggering  for  a  moment  like  a  drunken  man, 
fell  over  dead.  She  scarcely  glanced  at  him.  The 
officer,  who  knew  her,  rapidly  transferred  her  saddle  to 
his  own  pony. 

"  It  is  a  message  from  the  King  to  Nicholas,"  she 
said.  "  Tell  me,  how  long  will  it  take  me  ?  " 

"  The  Duke  is  himself  guarding  the  Beacon,"  the 
339 


340  THE  TRAITORS 

soldier  answered.  "  Madame  the  Countess  will  reach 
him  in  ten  minutes." 

She  galloped  off,  never  noticing  that  her  pony's  feet 
were  shod  with  felt.  She  looked  neither  to  the  right  nor 
the  left,  and  she  saw  nothing  of  the  strange  restlessness 
which  seemed  to  pervade  the  camp.  Everywhere  the 
shadows  of  men  were  moving  noiselessly  about.  Spec- 
tral guns  were  surrounded  by  little  groups  of  whispering 
soldiers.  There  was  no  bivouacing,  the  camp-fires 
burned  low.  Every  now  and  then,  when  challenged,  she 
mechanically  repeated  the  countersign.  All  the  while 
her  lips  were  moving  in  one  ceaseless,  passionate  prayer. 

They  took  her  pony  at  the  summit,  and  a  silent 
sentry  pointed  to  where  a  single  dark  figure  stood  out 
against  the  empty  background.  A  few  yards  to  his  left 
was  the  great  beacon,  and  a  row  of  torches  burned  in  a 
stand,  ever  ready  for  the  signal.  She  called  to  him 
softly,  and  even  to  herself  her  voice  seemed  to  come 
from  a  long  way  off. 

"  Nicholas  !     Nicholas  !  " 

He  turned  towards  her,  and  she  saw  that  his  face  was 
livid.  He  was  horrified  to  see  her. 

"  Marie  !     The  good  God  !     What  has  happened  ?  " 

"  I  have  deceived  you,  Nicholas,"  she  whispered, 
hoarsely.  "The  writing  was  not  the  writing  of  the 
King.  It  was  Domiloff's  plot,  and  I  wanted  to  see  you 
King.  The  King  has  saved  my  life.  Forever,  Nich- 
olas, you  and  I  must  be  his  faithful  subjects.  I  have 
given  my  word.  I  have  pledged  your  honour." 

Then  into  the  face  of  Nicholas  of  Reist  there  came  a 
transfiguring  and  almost  holy  joy.  He  uttered  no  word 


THE  TRAITORS  341 

of  reproach.  The  glory  of  life  was  once  more  hot  in  his 
pulses.  He  drew  her  to  him. 

"Thank  God!"  he  sobbed.  "This  way,  Marie! 
Now  listen  ! " 

She  stooped  with  him  over  that  awful  chaos.  From 
below  came  a  sound  like  the  falling  of  autumn  rains 
upon  dead  leaves.  He  held  her  to  him. 

"  It  is  the  Turks,"  he  whispered. 

She  sprang  away  in  horror,  but  he  laughed  softly. 

"  Marie,"  he  said,  "  that  is  well.  Instead  of  a  sleep- 
ing camp  our  guns  will  rake  the  Pass,  our  men  await 
only  the  signal.  Up  here,  where  one  is  near  God,  one 
sees  clearly.  I  am  the  faithful  servant  of  Theos,  even 
though  the  King  had  been  my  enemy.  See  !  " 

He  listened  for  a  moment,  and  then  crossing  the  hill, 
took  a  torch  from  the  stand  and  plunged  it  into  the  heart 
of  the  great  beacon.  Tongues  of  fire  leaped  up  to  the 
sky,  and  a  hoarse  murmur  passed  like  a  wind  through 
the  camp.  Then  the  ground  beneath  them  shook  with 
the  roar  of  artillery.  Nicholas  took  her  by  the  arm. 

"  Ride  for  Theos  at  once,"  he  directed.  "  You  will 
be  quite  safe,  for  no  Turk  will  pass  alive  through  the 
Pass.  Tell  the  King  that  I  am  his  faithful  servant." 


About  halfway  to  Theos,  Brand,  galloping  furiously 
out  from  the  city,  came  face  to  face  with  Marie  riding 
leisurely  home  on  a  small  pony.  He  leaped  from  his 
horse  in  amazement. 

"  Marie,"  he  exclaimed,  "what  is  happening  at  the 
Pass  ?  How  came  you  here  ?  " 


342  THE  TRAITORS 

She  was  very  tired,  but  she  smiled  at  him  reassuringly. 

"  Nicholas  has  over  ten  thousand  Turks  in  the  de- 
file," she  said.  "They  must  either  surrender  or  be 
killed." 

"  Thank  God  !  "  he  exclaimed. 

She  got  off  her  pony  and  sat  on  a  bank. 

"  I  am  very  tired,"  she  said,  and,  swaying  suddenly 
towards  him,  fainted  in  his  arms. 

Brand  was  a  man  of  resource,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
she  reopened  her  eyes.  He  poured  some  brandy  be- 
tween her  lips,  and  she  sat  up. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,"  she  said.  "  I  rode  last  night 
from  Theos  to  Althea,  and  I  have  had  no  rest." 

He  made  her  drink  some  milk.  They  sat  hand  in 
hand,  a  wonderful  dawn  breaking  in  the  east.  By  and 
by  a  horseman  from  Theos  passed  them  at  full  gallop. 

"  The  war  is  over,"  he  cried.  "  The  English  fleet  is 
at  Constantinople  !  The  Turks  have  sued  tor  peace. 
Long  live  the  King." 

He  vanished  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  riding  furiously  for 
the  Pass.  Brand  took  Marie  into  his  arms  and  kissed  her. 

"  Dear,"  he  said,  "  I  haven't  much  money,  and  I'm 
only  an  ordinary  man." 

She  laughed  softly. 

"  I  think  in  Theos,"  she  said,  "  we  have  clung  a  little 
too  closely  to  the  old  ideals.  Rank  is  very  well,  and 
money  I  know  little  about.  But  on  the  whole,  I  am 
glad  that  you  are  an  ordinary  man." 

They  rode  into  Theos  as  the  King  arrived  from 
Solika.  The  Cathedral  bells  clanged  out  a  welcome,  the 
people  lined  the  streets,  everywhere  breathless  excite- 


"'THE  WAR  is  OVER,'  HE  CRIED," 


THE  TRAITORS  343 

ment  prevailed.  Old  Baron  Doxis  met  the  King  on  the 
palace  steps.  He  held  out  both  hands,  but  his  eyes 
were  wet  with  tears. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "this  is  your  day  of 
triumph,'  and  yours  alone.  May  God  send  you  in  the 
future  wiser  and  better  councillors." 

But  Ughtred  passed  his  arm  through  the  old  man's, 
and  led  him  into  the  palace. 

"  I  am  young  and  I  was  unproven,"  he  said.  "  I 
shall  be  quite  satisfied  if  God  will  preserve  for  many 
years  my  present  ones." 

****** 

Theos  won  for  herself,  as  the  fruits  of  that  brief  cam- 
paign, a  wonderful  military  reputation,  and  every  pros- 
pect of  unbroken  peace.  She  entered  indeed  upon  that 
golden  age  which  comes  once  in  the  world's  history  to 
every  nation,  great  or  small.  Mr.  Van  Decht  built  a 
palace  within  the  city,  and  invested  all  his  vast  capital 
in  the  country.  Brand,  whose  services  no  one  realized 
more  thoroughly  than  the  King,  accepted  a  Government 
appointment  and  entered  the  House  of  Laws  a  natural- 
ized Thetian.  And  when  they  asked  the  King  what 
gift  a  grateful  nation  could  offer  him,  he  answered  them 
promptly  but  in  very  few  words. 

"  The  right  to  depart  from  a  constitutional  principle. 
The  right  to  share  my  throne  with  the  woman  I  love." 

There  was  no  hesitation,  no  break  in  the  thunderous 
applause  which  greeted  his  answer,  and  which  Nicholas 
of  Reist  himself  led.  The  marriage  of  Ughtred  of 
Tyrnaus  and  Sara  Van  Decht  under  such  conditions 
touched  the  imagination  of  Europe.  Every  capital  was 


344  THE  TRAITORS 

anxious  to  fete  them,  the  Society  papers  lived  upon  their 
doings  for  years.  But  even  they  did  not  know  that  dur- 
ing that  famous  visit  to  London,  where  they  were  re- 
ceived with  a  consideration  rarely  accorded  even  to 
royalty,  they  stole  away  one  evening  and  dined  together 
tete-a-tete  at  a  famous  London  restaurant.  They  were 
unrecognized,  and  they  enjoyed  themselves  like  children. 
Afterwards  they  found  out  a  certain  seat  in  a  certain 
corner  of  the  palm  lounge,  and  spent  a  very  delightful 
hour  there.  When  at  last  they  rose  to  go  he  took  her 
hand  for  a  moment  softly  in  his. 

"  Tell  me,"  he  whispered,  "  you  find  it  possible  to  be 
happy,  although  you  are  a  queen  ?  " 

"  I  am  your  wife,  dear,"  she  answered,  with  a  little 
squeeze  of  his  hand,  which  seemed  to  satisfy  him. 

An  amazing  whisper  suddenly  passed  from  group  to 
group  of  the  brilliantly-dressed  men  and  women  who  sat 
about  in  the  Court.  The  band  broke  off  in  the  middle 
of  a  selection  and  played  the  National  air  of  Theos. 
Every  one  rose  respectfully.  He  passed  her  hand 
through  his  arm  with  a  little  grimace. 

"  They  have  found  us  out,  dear,"  he  whispered. 

The  people  gazed  with  breathless  but  well-bred  in- 
terest. They  saw  a  tall,  distinguished-looking  man, 
with  the  mark  of  a  recent  scar  slightly  disfiguring  his 
left  temple,  and  upon  his  arm  the  most  beautiful  woman 
in  the  room,  her  eyes  wonderfully  soft  and  brilliant,  a 
delicate  flush  upon  her  checks.  The  King  and  Queen 
of  Theos  passed  out  to  their  carriage. 

THE    END 


from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


10 

URL 


NON-RENEABLE 


MAY  0  5 


,.".£.5.9.U™.ifiN..REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A     000  806  522     9 


